Sílvia Moros Espanol

Sílvia Moros Espanol serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science within the School of Physics, Engineering & Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire, where she actively contributes to the Robotics Research Group. Her interdisciplinary work bridges engineering, psychology, and education to develop socially assistive robotic systems.

Her academic credentials include:

• Industrial Engineering degree from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
• PAIR Master in Automated Production and Robotics from Fundació CIM - UPC
• Robotics and Automation Master from Universidad Carlos III, Madrid
• Psychology degree from Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)

Dr. Moros Espanol specializes in socially impactful robotics, with primary focus on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) for children with autism and ethical considerations in vulnerable populations. Her research examines how robotic behaviors influence social engagement in educational contexts, emphasizing both technical design and psychological implications. She investigates critical questions about robot embodiment, error handling in educational tools, and ethical frameworks for assistive technologies.

Analysis of her 2024-2025 publications reveals consistent exploration of child-robot dynamics, with significant emphasis on ethical hazard analysis (X-HAZOP), comparative studies of robot forms (e.g., robot dogs), and children's ability to interpret robotic social cues. Her work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration across psychology, engineering, and AI ethics.

She maintains active research partnerships within the University of Hertfordshire's Robotics Research Group, collaborating extensively with scholars like Paul Holthaus and Gabor Lakatos on projects examining trust, social cues, and educational applications of robotics. While specific grant details aren't provided, her sustained publication output indicates robust ongoing research activity.