HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION PATENTS: WHAT KIND OF SCHOLARLY WORK (NON-PATENT LITERATURE) IS THEIR SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE.

This article analyzes the types of scholarly works, specifically non-patent literature (NPL), that serve as the scientific knowledge base for patents related to human-robot interaction (HRI). Using a dataset of 1,672 patents from 1985 to 2023 retrieved via Lens.org, the study identifies 503 scholarly works cited by these patents and examines their temporal evolution, fields of study, and publication sources through bibliometric and network analysis techniques. The findings reveal that recent scientific developments (2001–2020) in fields such as Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Engineering, Computer Vision, Control Theory, and Simulation predominantly underpin HRI patents, with key publications appearing in reputable, indexed journals like IEEE Transactions on Robotics. This research highlights the dynamic and interdisciplinary scientific foundation supporting technological advances in HRI and provides a basis for future mapping of knowledge and research agendas in this area.