# Episode 143: Robots for children - Elmira Yadollahi

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2026-02-06
- Length: 35m
- Episode: 143
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-06-episode-143-robots-for-children-elmira-yadollahi
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-143-robots-for-children-elmira-yadollahi

## Summary

Elmira Yadollahi, an Assistant Professor at Lancaster University, discusses the nuances of child-robot interaction, highlighting how children’s developmental stages and lack of technological baggage lead them to attribute more emotion and intention to robots than adults. She explains that designing for children requires managing expectations and ensuring transparency, as children are prone to overtrust or dismissal if a robot’s capabilities do not match its cues. Yadollahi’s research focuses on explainability and perspective-taking, aiming to teach children critical AI literacy and appropriate trust levels through transparent robot behavior.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-06-episode-143-robots-for-children-elmira-yadollahi#t=7) Introduction: Elmira Yadollahi and Child-Robot Interaction
- [2:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-06-episode-143-robots-for-children-elmira-yadollahi#t=168) Differences in Adult vs. Child Perception and Developmental Stages
- [7:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-06-episode-143-robots-for-children-elmira-yadollahi#t=430) Age-Related Variations in Interaction and Perspective Taking
- [12:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-06-episode-143-robots-for-children-elmira-yadollahi#t=726) Perspective Taking, Theory of Mind, and Trust Formation
- [17:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-06-episode-143-robots-for-children-elmira-yadollahi#t=1079) Explainability in Robotics and Managing Expectations
- [27:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-02-06-episode-143-robots-for-children-elmira-yadollahi#t=1625) AI Literacy, Critical Thinking, and Parental Influence

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Lancaster University (company)
- EPFL (company)
- Instituto Superior Técnico (company)
- Baxter robot (product)
- Alexa (product)
- Siri (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)
- [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)
- [From Sci-Fi to Reality:  Physical AI's Future with Dr. Jan Liphardt](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-04-24-from-sci-fi-to-reality-physical-ais-future-with-dr-jan-liphardt) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Interview: Roboticist Ayanna Howard | Memories May Be Beautiful, And Yet | Math & Neptune](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-09-25-interview-roboticist-ayanna-howard-memories-may-be-beautiful-and-yet-math-neptun) (EE Times Current)
- [242: The Cilantro of Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-04-20-242-the-cilantro-of-robots) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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