Our research focuses on the psychology (the experience) of humans interacting with intelligent, automated, and autonomous systems to create scientific knowledge to support human-centered design of these systems.

Prof. Dr. Johannes Kraus

Human Factors and Engineering Psychology are disciplines within Applied Psychology. The goal is to generate knowledge about how people process and understand information when interacting with modern, intelligent technologies, how they learn about these systems, and how decisions are made in collaboration with them. To this end, research combines psychological principles with approaches from engineering and computer science to make the interaction between humans and intelligent technologies – such as automated vehicles, robots, or AI systems – safe, efficient, and acceptable.

In addition to classic topics such as perception and cognition, the department investigates current issues relating to trust in AI, explainability of technical systems (Explainable AI), accessibility, and the ethical and social implications of technological innovations. The goal is to translate scientific findings into practical applications and thereby contribute to effective, safe, responsible, human-centered technology design.

  • Trust in Intelligent Systems/AI:
    • Dynamic Trust Processes in Human-Machine Interaction
    • Psychological variables, e.g. Anxiety, technology-related Attitudes
    • Role of User Personality
    • Measurement of Trust variables
    • Role of Errors, Transparency, and Explainability
    • Role of perceived Fairness, Safety, and Privacy

Selected Publications:

Kraus, J. M. (2020). Psychological processes in the formation and calibration of trust in automation. [Dissertation, Universität Ulm] http://dx.doi.org/10.18725/OPARU-32583

„ZEN-MRI brings robots and people together. In the real-world laboratory located in Ulm’s city center, we can carry out pioneering work and help ensure that robots and people can coexist positively and stress-free in the future. This will be exciting and challenging – Challenge accepted.” – Prof. Dr. Johannes Kraus

The research project ZEN-MRI (Ulm Center for Research and Evaluation of Human-Robot Interaction in Public Spaces) investigates how autonomous service robots can be safely, socially compatibly, and accessibly integrated into public spaces. The aim is to develop a human-centered design that promotes trust, acceptance, and consideration in human-robot interaction. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, empirical studies are conducted in real urban environments to analyze behavior, perception, and interaction patterns between passers-by and robots. The findings are incorporated into the design of interaction strategies and technical solutions that transparently communicate the intentions and states of the robots. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and implemented together with partners from science, industry, and the city of Ulm.

Funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Consortium Management:Prof. Dr. Johannes Kraus (Professor of Human Factors and Engineering Psychology, JGU), Dr. Marlene Wessels (Post-doc, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz)

Project partners:

  • Universität Ulm
  • Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart
  • Fraunhofer IAO
  • ADLATUS Robotics GmbH
  • City of Ulm

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies support us in more and more areas of daily life. While their availability is constantly increasing, their inner workings and capabilities remain largely a black box for many users.

FAIR-COM is an interdisciplinary sub-project within the six-year research center TOPML (= Trading Off Non-Functional Properties of Machine Learning), which is funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation in the Breakthroughs program. Its focus is on investigating conflicts of objectives between central non-functional properties of modern machine learning systems such as fairness, transparency/interpretability, privacy, and resource efficiency.

FAIRCOM specifically addresses the question of how the fairness of AI systems can be made understandable, assessable, and experienceable for users. The project emphasizes the analysis of psychological and situational factors influencing the understanding of fairness and the integration of psychological findings into techniques of explainable AI (XAI) and interface design. The aim is to make fairness not only quantifiable but also understandable, comprehensible, and intuitively accessible – as a basis for informed decisions, trust, and responsible use.

Funding: Funding line “Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence” of the Carl Zeiss Foundation

Spokesperson TOPML: Prof. Dr. Stefan Kramer (JGU), Coordination: Sylvia Steinmetz (JGU)

Project duration: 01/01/2026 – 12/31/2028

Consortium Management: Prof. Dr. Johannes Kraus, Dr. Mattia Cerrato

RoboCons is a European, interdisciplinary research project that aims to make the construction industry future-oriented by integrating advanced robotics and digital methods into construction practice. The goal is to develop a Robot-Human Adaptive Construction Ecosystem (ACE), a safe, resource-efficient, and environmentally conscious ecosystem in which humans and robots can work together seamlessly in the construction industry. A central component of the project is the development of the Digital Construction Platform (DCP), a digital, AI-supported integration platform that bundles information from planning, construction, and monitoring and enables the exchange between people, robots, and digital tools. The DCP forms the technological basis for adaptive, robot-assisted, yet human-centered construction, and the development and selection of suitable robotic solutions for various use cases in construction.

From a psychological perspective, the project particular examines in trust, acceptance, and situational awareness on the part of the human partners in robot-assisted application scenarios. The project thus ensures that technological innovations and assistance in the construction industry are not only functional but also implemented in a human-centered and socially acceptable manner.

Funding: EU Horizon

Project duration: 01/01/2026 – 12/31/2028

Consortium Management: IKERLAN S. COOP

Project partners:

  • Construcciones ACR SA (Madrid, Spain)
  • NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS (Bergen, Norway)
  • Flanders Make (Lommel, Belgium)
  • IKERLAN S. COOP (Mondragon, Spain)
  • Alberto Couto Alves S.A (Vila Nova de Famalicao, Portugal)
  • INEGI – Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (Porto, Portugal)
  • ALDAKIN SL (Alsasua, Spain)
  • HUPI (Bidart, France)
  • Mechatronics Innovation Lab AS (Grimstad, Norway)
  • Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (Mainz, Germany)
  • Veidekke Entreprenør AS (Oslo, Norway)
  • ACTIA Automotive (Toulouse, France)
  • Freie Universität Brüssel (Brussels, Belgium)
  • Fachhochschule der italienischen Schweiz (Manno, Switzerland)