Systematic review demonstrates how emotion recognition enhances user engagement in assistive robotics, highlighting a shift toward context-aware empathetic systems.
Physical human–robot interaction involves a tightly coupled cognitive interaction with the user. The emotional state of the user is therefore a key factor influencing engagement, motivation, and long-term acceptance. This review explores recent developments in emotion-aware technologies, particularly facial expression recognition and multimodal affect detection, and their potential to make assistive robots more adaptive and human-centred. By analysing current methodologies, emerging trends, and ethical considerations, we show how the integration of emotional intelligence can transform robotic assistance, shifting from reactive mechanisms to genuinely empathetic, socio-psychological, and context-aware assistive partners.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Barquin et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: