Emotion Recognition in Human-Robot Interaction

As robots transition from industrial settings to human-centric environments—such as homes, clinics, and classrooms—their ability to perceive and respond to human emotions has become a cornerstone for effective interaction. Emotion recognition enables robots to go beyond mere task execution, allowing for more natural, adaptive, and meaningful engagement. The evolution of affective computing, multimodal sensing technologies, and intelligent behavior modeling has propelled the integration of emotional intelligence into robotic systems. However, challenges remain in interpreting complex human affect, especially in real-world, culturally diverse, and ethically sensitive contexts. To advance these capabilities, a deeper interdisciplinary collaboration among robotics, neuroscience, psychology, and AI is essential. This Research Topic aims to explore the state-of-the-art in emotion-aware robotics and its transformative potential across domains.

The goal of this Research Topic is to gather pioneering research that addresses the scientific, technological, and ethical challenges of emotion recognition in human-robot interaction (HRI). As emotionally intelligent robots gain prominence in healthcare, education, and assistive technologies, it is crucial to develop systems that can perceive, interpret, and respond to human emotions in real time and across contexts. This collection seeks to highlight innovative work in multimodal emotion sensing, adaptive behaviors, deep learning, explainable AI, and context-aware emotion modeling. Submissions may include original research, systematic reviews, or conceptual frameworks that contribute to the design of emotionally responsive robots. We are particularly interested in studies involving real-world deployments, user experience evaluations, and longitudinal assessments. This Research Topic aims to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue that bridges robotics, affective science, psychology, and human-computer interaction, ultimately advancing the field toward empathic, personalized, and socially aware robotic systems that enhance human well-being and collaboration.

This Research Topic encompasses a broad range of research on the development and application of emotion recognition in human-robot interaction. We welcome interdisciplinary contributions that integrate methods from robotics, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, psychology, and human-computer interaction. Submissions may explore novel sensing technologies, real-time emotion inference algorithms, adaptive robot behavior, or longitudinal studies in real-world settings. Both theoretical and empirical work is encouraged. We are particularly interested in studies involving multimodal data fusion (e.g., facial expressions, speech, EEG, physiological signals), context-aware emotion modeling, and applications in socially assistive robotics. Authors may submit original research articles, systematic reviews, short communications, opinion pieces, or methodological papers. Contributions should aim to advance the understanding of how emotion recognition can support more effective, ethical, and emotionally responsive human-robot collaboration. We also encourage work that addresses cultural sensitivity, privacy, and inclusivity in the design of emotion-aware systems.