People, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotic Systems (PAIRS)

Abstract:  

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotic systems are becoming increasingly integrated into daily life, making it essential to understand how these technologies impact the people who interact with them. For AI-driven and robotic systems to be truly assistive, researchers must examine how humans and robots can collaborate effectively through mutual reliance and multi-directional trust (e.g., human–robot, robot–human, and robot–robot). This talk provides an overview of three major research initiatives underway in the Social, Therapeutic, and Robotic Systems (STaRS) Lab at Mississippi State University, directed by Dr. Cindy Bethel. The first project investigates multi-agent teaming with a focus on mechanisms that support multi-directional trust and reliance. It introduces a framework for shared meta- and mental models and integrates AI techniques for enhanced decision-making and information sharing among agents. The second project highlights the development of a video-based object-tracking system designed for law enforcement and public safety applications. This system offers a low-cost, low-resource solution that streamlines investigative workflows and reduces the time and effort required for case management. The final project centers on human–robot interaction in therapeutic contexts, featuring Therabot™, an assistive robotic platform created to support individuals with mental health challenges and trauma-related disorders. Dr. Bethel will discuss the robot’s design evolution, therapeutic use cases, and ongoing evaluation. The presentation will also briefly touch on additional areas of interest within human–robot interaction research. Lastly, the presentation will conclude with Dr. Bethel’s vision and thoughts for advancing and expanding graduate and postdoctoral programs within the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering at the University of Alabama.

Bio:

Cindy L. Bethel, Ph.D. (IEEE and ACM Senior Member) is a Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department and holds the Billie J. Ball Endowed Professorship in Engineering at Mississippi State University (MSU). She is the Director of the Social, Therapeutic, and Robotic Systems (STaRS) lab. Dr. Bethel has managed just under $15 million dollars in grant funding since starting at MSU in August 2011. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, and workshop papers. She recently served as an IPA Program Director with the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the past three years (2022-2025). She has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Computing Research Association (2020-2022). She was an NSF/CRA/CCC Computing Innovation Postdoctoral Fellow in the Social Robotics Laboratory at Yale University. From 2005 – 2008, and she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. She graduated in August 2009 with her Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of South Florida with doctoral minors in Psychology and in Applied Statistics. Her research interests include human-robot interaction, robotics, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, cognitive science, and psychology. Her research focuses on applications associated with robotic therapeutic support, human-autonomy/AI teaming, robots for law enforcement, search and rescue, and military operations.