Explore publications, presentations, and student work around the Robot Study Companion.
Baksh, F.; Zorec, M.B.; Kruusamäe, K. Open-Source Robotic Study Companion with Multimodal Human–Robot Interaction to Improve the Learning Experience of University Students. Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 5644. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135644
Baksh, F., Zorec, M., Kruusamäe, K. (2024). Designing Social Robots for Learning: HRI Participatory Design Workshop. In: Cheng, YP., Pedaste, M., Bardone, E., Huang, YM. (eds) Innovative Technologies and Learning. ICITL 2024. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14786. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-65884-6_22
Baksh, F., Jackson, I., Jackson, I., Zorec, M.B. (2025). University Students Acceptance of a Robot Study Companion. In: Balogh, R., Obdržálek, D., Fachantidis, N. (eds) Robotics in Education. RiE 2025. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 1544. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-98762-5_5
M. Calafa’, F. Baksh, M. B. Zorec and K. Kruusamäe, "Emotive Design of a Robot Study Companion to Support University Learning," 34th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), Eindhoven, Netherlands, 2025, pp. 1415-1420, doi: 10.1109/RO-MAN63969.2025.11217846
D. Lamouille, M. B. Zorec, F. Baksh and K. Kruusamäe, "Benchmarking Local Language Models for Social Robots using Edge Devices," 22nd IEEE International Conference on Advanced Robotics and its Social Impact (ARSO), Vienna, Austria, 2026 [forthcoming]
S. Mohamed, M. B. Zorec, and F. Baksh, "Towards Offline Conversational Tutors: Benchmarking Quantised Local Language Models with Retrieval Augmented Generation," 22th International Conference on Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS2026), Hybrid/Cyprus, 2026 [forthcoming]
Baksh, F., Zorec, M., Baksh, F., Kruusamäe, K., "Co-Creating Buildable and Open Social Robot Study Companions with University Students," 18th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR + ART 2026), London, United Kingdom [forthcoming]
Presentation by Farnaz Baksh (May 5-6, 2025)
Title: Edge-Deployed Intelligence and Multimodal Interaction for Robotic Study Companions
Book of Abstracts 📄
3-minute pitch by Farnaz Baksh (November 25, 2025)
Changemaker Profile🎙️
EIT Manufacturing Article 🌐
EIT Official Announcement 📌
Poster presentation by Farnaz Baksh (October 8-10, 2025)
Programme 🌐
Conference Participation (27 - 29 August 2025):
— Farnaz Baksh gave a session talk at the Robots for Humans (RfH) Workshop 🎙️
— Farnaz Baksh & Matevž Zorec took part in the in-person robot design competition representing the RSC team, which included
Feiazie Baksh (poster & slides support) and Ali Badshah (documentation)
— The team won the Best Technical Design Award — View Awards🏆
— Miriam Calafa' presented the team’s paper on the Emotive Design of the RSC — View Abstract 🌐
In-person talk by Farnaz Baksh & Matevž Zorec (May 30, 2025)
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Poster presentation by Farnaz Baksh (May 6-7, 2025)
Title: The ongoing adventures of the Robot Study Companion
Book of Abstracts 📄
Presented in person by Farnaz Baksh (April 25, 2025)
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Online presentation by Matevž Zorec (April 2, 2025)
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Presented in person by Farnaz Baksh (December 5, 2024)
Event Highlights 📌
Presented in person by Farnaz Baksh (August 14, 2024)
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BSc Computer Engineering, University of Tartu (expected June 2026)
Supervisors: F. Baksh MSc, M.B. Zorec MSc
MSc Robotics, University of Tartu (January 2026)
Supervisors: F. Baksh MSc, M.B. Zorec MSc
MSc Robotics, University of Tartu (June 2025)
Supervisors: F. Baksh MSc, K. Kruusamäe PhD
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BSc Computer Science, University of Guyana (June 2024)
Supervisor: Farnaz Baksh MSc
MSc Robotics & Computer Engineering, University of Tartu (June 2023)
Supervisors: K. Kruusamäe PhD, S. Schumann MSc, A. Luhtaru MSc
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