Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Autonomous robots are increasingly integrated into social contexts, making affective human–robot interaction (HRI) critical for their effectiveness and acceptance. However, existing research remains dispersed across domains and techniques, lacking a unified framework to characterize core robotic capabilities. To address this gap, we adopt a capability-oriented perspective and conduct a comprehensive literature review, through which we propose a structured taxonomy of capabilities for robots in affective HRI. The taxonomy comprises five core dimensions: Perception (recognizing human internal states), Strategy (planning responses based on human states and context), Expression (conveying robot lifelikeness and social presence), Sustainability (maintaining effective and reliable operation over time), and Ethics (ensuring behavior within ethical constraints). By organizing diverse research efforts into a structured framework, this taxonomy provides a systematic foundation for designing socially competent robots and guiding future research.
Source: Electronics
Authors: Yunjia Sun, Tao Wang
Institution: Peking University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
Funder: Peking University
OpenAlex ID: W7154690671
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