16-701 Fundamentals of HRI

6 units, Carnegie Mellon University

This course fulfills one mini requirement for the Robotics PhD core. Robots often have to interact with and around people, and such human-robot interactions present both challenges and opportunities for robotics. In this introductory course on HRI, we will learn how a robot's algorithmic and behavioral design impacts the way people perceive and respond to it. We will cover basic human psychology principles like communication and theory of mind, and we will see how robots can use these principles to create more effective interactions. We will also learn how to conduct human-subjects experiments and analyze the resulting data in ways that allow us to learn more about HRI. The course will primarily involve lectures, in-class discussions, readings, and take-home exercises. There will be a final exam. Seats reserved for RI PhD and MSR students.

Prerequisites: none listed

Offered: Fall 2026, Fall 2025

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