A Decade of Human-Robot Interaction through Immersive Lenses: A Literature Review on Extended Reality as a Research Instrument in Social Robotics

2026-01-20

AI Summary

This study addresses critical gaps in empirical research on extended reality (XR) in social robotics, including the lack of systematic methodologies, homogeneous participant samples, and inconsistent reporting standards. Through a systematic review of 33 rigorously selected empirical studies published between 2015 and 2025, we synthesize the current use of XR platforms—encompassing virtual, augmented, and mixed reality—as well as head-mounted displays, eye tracking, motion capture, and system logging technologies. Our analysis reveals that most studies are confined to low-interactivity laboratory settings and frequently omit essential hardware and software specifications. To advance the field, we propose a four-stage roadmap emphasizing broader application contexts, iterative technological development, enhanced diversity in both participants and research teams, and the adoption of a standardized reporting framework for XR–human–robot interaction (XR-HRI) studies to improve ecological validity and reproducibility.

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: Human-Robot Interaction
• Humans and AI: Interaction Techniques and Devices
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Social Cognition And Interaction

Application Category

• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web applications in cross-disciplinary domains and verticals such as mixed reality, smart cities, and digital health

Abstract

Over the past decade, extended reality (XR), including virtual, augmented, and mixed reality, gained attention as a research instrument in human-robot interaction studies, but remains underexplored in empirical investigations of social robotics. To map the field, we systematically reviewed empirical studies from 2015 to 2025. Of 6,527 peer-reviewed articles, only 33 met strict inclusion criteria. We examined (1) how XR and virtual social robots are used and in which contexts, (2) data collection and analysis methods, (3) demographics of the researchers and participants, and (4) the stated challenges and future agendas. Our findings show that social XR-HRI research is still dominated by laboratory simulations, while crucial specifications like used hardware, software, and robots are often not reported. Robots typically act as passive and less interactive visual stimuli, while the rich biosignal (e.g., eye-tracking) and logging functions of modern head-mounted displays remain largely untapped. The research teams and samples are predominantly tech-centric, Western, young, and male, with frequent gaps in demographic reporting. Key limitations include hardware delays, small homogeneous samples, and short, shallow study cycles. We propose a five-phase roadmap to establish social XR-HRI as a reliable research medium, which includes fostering methodological innovation, a reinforced ecological validity by, e.g., using application contexts, the improvement of the robot's interaction quality, promoting diversity in the sample and the development of a social XR-HRI taxonomy. Advancing in these directions is essential for XR to mature from a lab prototype into an ecologically valid research instrument for social robotics.

Problem

• Extended Reality
• Human-Robot Interaction
• Social Robotics
• Research Instrument
• Empirical Study

Innovation

• Extended Reality (XR)
• Social Robotics
• Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)
• Research Methodology
• Reporting Standards