Shyamli Suneesh
Welcome to my Research Space
I am a PhD student in Human Robot Interaction at the School of Computing and Communications at Lancaster University, UK.
My research interests include Human Robot Interaction, Social Robotics, Interaction Design, AI Literacy, Multimodal Explainability
Google Scholar
Research Gate
With my PhD supervisor Dr. Elmira Yadollahi and QT Robot at the Explore Week, as part of Light Up Lancaster 2025.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
I have always believed in helping humans. I am in the pursuit of how I can improve and empower lives through the power of technology and kindness of humanity. I have been contributing towards robotics for children's education so far and love to expand my horion into healthcare and UN SDGs in the future.
Ned and QT - Identify the Robot Behaviour! LUL 2025
We presented our robots at the Explore Week as part of Light Up Lancaster! QT would tell Ned to stack a set of cubes, but let's see how Ned behaves today?! We exhibited various robot behaviours from Mysterious, Capable to Villian and Chaotic! We wanted to see if kids were able to pick the behavioural cues from a humanoid and a non humanoid robot! We had lovely responses from the children and their parents, lighting up conversations of curiosity around AI Literacy which also touched the purpose of my PhD, where I attempt to make robots understandable for kids!
Does the robot answer ethically? Cyber Girls First 2025
We introduced QT into the cybersecurity world at the Cyber Girls First event where young enthusiastic teen girls were keen to learn about robots, AI and ethics! We set up various activities with QT, from a AI myth busting wheel to the robot answering any cyber related questions using LLMS, where the teens had to judge how appropriately or ethically the robot answered to their questions such as 'How can I stay safe online?' to 'Can you hack into my friend's account?'. They also pondered upon questions such as 'What should robots do and not do? Who owns the data of the robot?' and more!
Multimodal Explainability in Child Robot Interaction
How robot behaviours can align to children? How can robots help tune children's expectations towards robots? What if robots can explain themselves on how they make decisions to the child? This is what I explore in healthcare and education context! To know more about my PhD research work, read my Doctoral Consortium!
Exploring Parental Perception and AI Literacy in Educational Child Robot Interaction
Parents play an important role in child development and child perception towards technology. Are parents AI literate enough to guide their children to use technology with the right approach?
Interactive Wristband to promote Inclusive Learning in Classroom
Wouldn't be so cool to have a device that helps shy children speak up in class in group discussions? So that they also get a chance to participate, to speak and improve their confidence? Do you wish you had such a wristband too, while growing up? I too wish! This research was awarded the Runners Up in Research and Design Challenge in Interaction Design and Children Conference 2024! Watch the video and read to find more about our team's work!
Socially Assistive Robot to help Dyslexic children learn better
Combination of different modalities and learning styles around language learning all integrated into games for young children to learn and practice with a social robot! Fun interactive learning incorporated with pedagogical methodologies grounded in special education to help children grow! Sounds cool?
Download to find out more about my Master's thesis!
Wearable Physical Therapy robot for Hand Rehabilitation
A robotic soft glove that aids in helping post surgery patients with hand physical therapy! Using mimicking and mirroring techniques, sensors and an online interface where the patient and doctor can communicate and track progress, accessible healthcare can be made possible with innovation in the world of health x tech! Our team won the 'Best Poster Award' in Assistive Technologies! Click to find out more!
Human Swarm Interaction: Impact of Swarm Robot Motion on Human Trust
How does it feel to deposit your item in a robot cloakroom? Would you trust the swarm robotic system? We explored if swarm motion (organic vs structured) has an impact on human trust?
Designing for Children's Digital Wellbeing: From a Different Lens
Presented Workshop at IDC 2024, Netherlands
We explored children's digital wellbeing from different perspectives, namely, research, policy and practice! Brainstormed with groups of brilliant minds to come up with a framework that facilitates for knowledge transfer transcending boundaries and ideas for the future!
Whispers of Hope: Narrative game to foster Hope in Children
A fun and cute game narrated by lovely animal characters, a game that educates children on emotional growth and brings hope and finally a game that combines interactive storytelling, daily affirmations, and positive news to promote goal-directed thinking along with learning about animal conservation! All together, that's our game the 'Whispers of Hope' that constitutes of three levels to play and learn for your lil one! Children achieve milestones by saving endangered animals with each level and the end awaits for them an AR Surprise!
Children Group Interaction in Indian Education Classrooms
We are a team of Indians who are mostly based abroad and we wished to do a research contribution for our country and that's how this project began! Our research is based in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Most research revolves around one child and one robot interaction, this research looks into the less explored child group interaction with a social robot, how children can effectively learn and benefit from this and so on!
DrawPetal: A Multisensory Flower Interface for Embodied Creativity and Emotional Expression
DrawPetal is a soft, flower-shaped interactive
prototype designed to support embodied creativity through multisensory feedback. Rather than focusing on visual accuracy or screen-based drawing and inspired by principles of calm technology and embodied interaction, DrawPetal offers a poetic and playful canvas for emotional self-expression, reflection, and well-being.
Nano Swarms for Cancer!
Educating young girls on nano medicine and AI technology for cancer treatment, through a digital game made in Scratch programming! By experimenting and tuning around with different nano particle parameters, they learnt how nano robots release drugs at the right destination to attack affected tumour cells in a healthy manner! This work was part of sciene communication from EVONANO, European project on AI for Cancer!
Designing Playful and Ethical Child AI Systems
Presented Workshop at IDC 2025, Iceland
This workshop will explore how to create AI systems for children that are engaging, transparent, and ethically responsible. Our highlights include children's rights, safety, designing practical tools for responsible AI!
If you would love to participate, please register!
