Brian Scassellati, PhD
A. Bartlett Giamatti Professor of Computer Science and Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials ScienceCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
We Cannot Outsource What We Value Most: Toward Deployable Research Products in HRI
Matheus K, Scassellati B. We Cannot Outsource What We Value Most: Toward Deployable Research Products in HRI. 2026, 1359-1368. DOI: 10.1145/3757279.3788816.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHuman-robot interactionHuman-robot interaction researchHuman-robot interaction communitySocial robotic platformResearch productivityRobotic platformResearch artifactsAlternative pathsMental modelsDeploymentIndustrial problemsInnovation theoryAcademic researchRobotLab prototypePlatformPrototypeBusinessWhen Robots Should Break the Rules
Ramnauth R, Scassellati B. When Robots Should Break the Rules. 2026, 1409-1420. DOI: 10.1145/3757279.3788815.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpen-Ended Goal Inference through Actions and Language for Human-Robot Collaboration
Ghose D, Gitelson O, Vázquez M, Scassellati B. Open-Ended Goal Inference through Actions and Language for Human-Robot Collaboration. 2026, 68-77. DOI: 10.1145/3757279.3785540.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Replicable, Autonomous System for In-the-Wild Mental Health Applications with the Ommie Robot
Matheus K, Ghose D, Limprayoon J, Lewkowicz M, Scassellati B. A Replicable, Autonomous System for In-the-Wild Mental Health Applications with the Ommie Robot. 2026, 1173-1175. DOI: 10.1145/3776734.3794586.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTo Help or Not to Help?: An Expanded Framework for Deciding Socially Appropriate Robot Assistance
Ramnauth R, Brščić D, Scassellati B. To Help or Not to Help?: An Expanded Framework for Deciding Socially Appropriate Robot Assistance. ACM Transactions On Human-Robot Interaction 2026 DOI: 10.1145/3797264.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2025
Ive Changed My Mind: Robots Adapting to Changing Human Goals During Collaboration
Ghose D, Gitelson O, Jin R, Abawe G, Vázquez M, Scassellati B. Ive Changed My Mind: Robots Adapting to Changing Human Goals During Collaboration. IEEE Robotics And Automation Letters 2025, 11: 1490-1497. DOI: 10.1109/lra.2025.3643294.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEffective human-robot collaborationHuman-robot collaborationReal-world scenariosExplicit communicationGoal predictionAction sequencesRobotCollaboration efficiencyHuman goalsPrediction algorithmHorizon planningGoal changePast actionsFixed goalsCollaborationAlgorithmGoalCooking environmentCommunicationScenariosInferenceMethodTowards Zero-Knowledge Task Planning via a Language-based Approach
Hoffmeister L, Scassellati B, Rakita D. Towards Zero-Knowledge Task Planning via a Language-based Approach. 2025, 00: 19233-19239. DOI: 10.1109/iros60139.2025.11247082.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBehavior treesZero-knowledgeTask planningNatural language instructionsTask-specific knowledgeOn-the-flyLanguage-based approachSequence of actionsLanguage modelBehavior generationRefinement loopTask executionRobust frameworkExecutionTaskTask performanceSubtasksExperimental validationLLMLanguage instructionKnowledgeFrameworkLanguagePerformanceErrorNudging Without Words: Movement-Only Cues from a Robot Manipulator Influence Human Decisions
Brščić D, Scassellati B. Nudging Without Words: Movement-Only Cues from a Robot Manipulator Influence Human Decisions. 2025, 00: 1334-1341. DOI: 10.1109/ro-man63969.2025.11217684.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFrom Fidgeting to Focused: Developing Robot-Enhanced Social-Emotional Therapy (RESET) for School De-Escalation Rooms
Ramnauth R, Brščić D, Scassellati B. From Fidgeting to Focused: Developing Robot-Enhanced Social-Emotional Therapy (RESET) for School De-Escalation Rooms. 2025, 00: 966-973. DOI: 10.1109/ro-man63969.2025.11217873.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStudent self-regulationSelf-RegulationDiverse student needsClassroom learningStudent needsElementary schoolClassroom settingSchool environmentSchoolRobot usabilityClassroomCo-design processStudentsIterative developmentEffective implementationResource constraintsRobotCo-designDeploymentSmoother transitionsEmotional statesSystem componentsLearningUsabilityA Robot-Assisted Approach to Small Talk Training for Adults with ASD
Ramnauth R, Brščić D, Scassellati B. A Robot-Assisted Approach to Small Talk Training for Adults with ASD. 2025 DOI: 10.15607/rss.2025.xxi.088.Peer-Reviewed Original Research