Robot Talk Episode 143 – Robots for children, with Elmira Yadollahi - Robohub

In episode 143 of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire interviews Elmira Yadollahi, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Lancaster University, about how children interact with and relate to robots. Yadollahi’s research focuses on child–robot interaction, particularly in areas such as managing children's expectations, building trust, and promoting AI literacy. She also works on explainability in robotics, developing multimodal perception and explanation methods to make robot behavior more understandable. Her expertise is supported by a joint PhD in robotics and computer science from EPFL and Instituto Superior Técnico, and she has organized workshops on explainability and the design of robots and AI with children. The episode highlights the importance of designing robots that can effectively communicate and engage with children to foster positive relationships and understanding of AI technologies. Yadollahi’s work aims to improve how children perceive and trust robots, which is crucial as robots become more integrated into educational and social contexts. The podcast continues its broader exploration of robotics and AI, featuring