# Episode Thirty-Five: Emily S. Cross

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2023-02-03
- Length: 25m
- Episode: 35
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-03-episode-thirty-five-emily-s-cross
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-thirty-five-emily-s-cross

## Summary

Professor Emily S. Cross, from the University of Glasgow and Western Sydney University, explains how her Social Brain in Action Laboratory uses neuroscience, dance, and robots to study social learning and human-robot interaction. She discusses the action observation network, demonstrating that humans can learn complex physical skills by watching others, and argues that robots need not look human to be effective social partners, citing the Cosmo robot as an example of successful minimal design. Cross also explores computer-generated choreography, finding that while experts can distinguish AI from human dance, general enjoyment dips when the artificial origin is known, and highlights the potential for embodied robot tutors in physical spaces.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-03-episode-thirty-five-emily-s-cross#t=7) Introduction: Emily S. Cross and Social Brain in Action Laboratory
- [1:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-03-episode-thirty-five-emily-s-cross#t=116) From Cognitive Neuroscience to Using Robots as Control Conditions
- [3:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-03-episode-thirty-five-emily-s-cross#t=218) Research Areas: Expertise, Aesthetics, and Human-Robot Interaction
- [5:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-03-episode-thirty-five-emily-s-cross#t=345) The Action Observation Network and Mirror Neurons in Dance and Acrobatics
- [9:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-03-episode-thirty-five-emily-s-cross#t=555) Designing Human-Readable Robots: The Cosmo Robot vs. Humanoids
- [13:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-03-episode-thirty-five-emily-s-cross#t=826) Embodied Robot Tutors and Teachers in Physical Space
- [15:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-03-episode-thirty-five-emily-s-cross#t=940) Computer-Generated Choreography: Expert vs. Novice Perception
- [22:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-03-episode-thirty-five-emily-s-cross#t=1362) Agile Robots, Boston Dynamics, and Future Robot Dancers

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- University of Glasgow (company)
- Western Sydney University (company)
- Social Brain in Action Laboratory (other)
- Cosmo robot (product)
- Ishiguro's lab (company)
- Bangor University (company)
- Boston dynamics (company)
- Atlas robots (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [207: I Love My Robot Monkey Head (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-03-12-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [177. Did A Shrimp Fry This Rice? No, A Robot Did](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-06-04-177-did-a-shrimp-fry-this-rice-no-a-robot-did) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Seeing Robotics and Machine Vision as Dynamical Systems](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-10-13-seeing-robotics-and-machine-vision-as-dynamical-systems) (EE Times Current)
- [207: I Love My Robot Monkey Head](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-05-207-i-love-my-robot-monkey-head) (Embedded.fm)
- [171. Finally! A Humanoid Robot You Can Trust](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-04-23-171-finally-a-humanoid-robot-you-can-trust) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

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