Martin Cooney

Martin Cooney is a Senior Lecturer at Halmstad University's School of Information Technology, where he serves as Programme Director for the Master's Programme in Information Technology (TAITE) and the Master's Programme in Embedded and Intelligent Systems (TAEIS). He holds the title of Docent (Associate Professor) in Sweden and maintains significant international collaborations, including his role as Visiting Associate Professor at Nara Women's University in Japan and Collaborative Researcher at the Deep Interaction Laboratory Group (DIL) at ATR in Kyoto.

Dr. Cooney's research focuses on social robotics and human-robot interaction with applications for human well-being. His work explores how robots can recognize and respond to human emotions, support creative processes, and provide social assistance in various contexts. He has developed theoretical frameworks for designing robots capable of recognizing social touch behavior and generating appropriate responses that foster positive human-robot relationships. His research has evolved from foundational work on affectionate interaction with small humanoid robots to more complex systems addressing robot self-defense, ethical considerations in robotics, and applications in healthcare and education.

His recent publications reveal a growing emphasis on robot ethics, particularly around self-defense capabilities and cultural implications of robots using force to protect humans. He has also expanded into educational applications of robotics, examining how AI and robotics can enhance teaching and learning experiences in the post-pandemic 'new world' of education.

• 10 awards in robotics competitions
• Excellent Teacher award at Halmstad University

As an educator, Dr. Cooney has developed and taught courses on Design of Embedded and Intelligent Systems, User Experience Design for AI, Fundamentals of Computer Vision with Deep Learning, and Design for Extended Realities. He serves as a Responsible Examiner for several programs and has developed Robots and AI specifically for teaching purposes at his university's Pedagogical Center.

His research is conducted through multiple international collaborations, most notably with the Deep Interaction Laboratory Group at ATR in Japan, where he contributes to cutting-edge research in human-robot interaction. He also serves as Local Coordinator for the EU Remind Project at Halmstad University, indicating active involvement in European research initiatives, and has previously led the KKS RELIFE project with visiting research positions in Norway, Spain, and Italy.