Telerobots extend human presence to remote environments, enabling us to interact with spaces and people far beyond our physical reach. These mobile platforms, which serve in applications from healthcare to remote education, are designed to bridge the gap between distant locations and intimate human interactions. However, despite their promise, telerobots often struggle to convey the subtle non-verbal cues such as gestures, facial expressions, and tactile feedback that are essential for genuine social connection.

In our lab, we are addressing these challenges by exploring how varying levels of control from fully manual to fully autonomous can enhance both task prformance and social presence in telerobotic interactions. By leveraging telerobot platforms like Temi and Quori, and by integrating advanced features such as robotic manipulators, our research investigates how physical expressiveness and intuitive control can transform remote operations. Through this work, we aim to create a seamless, immersive experience that not only improves operational efficiency but also fosters meaningful, human-like interactions, opening new pathways for communication in remote environments.