Edoardo Datteri, profile picture

I am a Full Professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science at the University of Milano-Bicocca, and director of the RobotiCSS Lab. I am fascinated by the idea of using robots as scientific models to study animal cognition and behaviour, humans included – an idea that dates back to cybernetics and the golden era of artificial intelligence, and is now being revived in biorobotics and social robotics. I am the author of several philosophical articles on this subject. I also have fun (and learn a lot about science) by coordinating empirical studies that rely on the facilities of the RobotiCSS lab. I am the Principal Investigator of the FIS project ‘RiLS’. You can find an organised overview of the research activities that I have carried out and coordinated on the pages about biorobotics and human-robot interaction.

Email address: edoardo.datteri at unimib.it

Visiting address: Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126 Milano (MI), Building U6, fourth floor, room 4153

Peer-reviewed articles published in international journals

  1. Roselli, C., Lapomarda, L., Larghi, S., Zagni, N., & Datteri, E. (2026). Culture and anthropomorphism towards robots in middle school students: Evidence from human–robot interaction. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44312-y
  2. Datteri, E. (2026). The Attribution of Rationality to Robots. Croatian Journal of Philosophy, 26(76), 17–39. https://doi.org/10.52685/cjp.26.76.2
  3. Grazzani, I., Conte, E., & Datteri, E. (2026). False belief attribution in toddlers: An exploratory study with a novel unexpected-identity task. Frontiers in Developmental Psychology, 4, 1727052. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdpys.2026.1727052
  4. Pivetti, M., Di Battista, S., Bozzi, G., Merisio, C., & Datteri, E. (2026). What is a Programming Error? A Thematic Analysis of Teachers’ Views on Errors. Technology, Knowledge and Learning. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-025-09950-7
  5. Roselli, C., Lapomarda, L., & Datteri, E. (2025). How culture modulates anthropomorphism in Human-Robot Interaction: A review. Acta Psychologica, 255, 104871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104871
  6. Datteri, E. (2025). Models for Surrogative Stimulation. Erkenntnis. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-025-00951-7
  7. Datteri, E. (2025), “Folk-ontological stances towards robots and psychological human likeness”, International Journal of Social Robotics, 17, 257-276, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-025-01225-6
  8. Datteri, E., & Schiaffonati, V. (2023). “Computer simulations and surrogative reasoning for the design of new robots”. Synthese, 202(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-023-04220-4
  9. Datteri, E., Chaminade, T., & Romano, D. (2022). “Going Beyond the “Synthetic Method”: New Paradigms Cross-Fertilizing Robotics and Cognitive Neuroscience”. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(June), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.819042
  10. Tamborini, M., & Datteri, E. (2023). Is biorobotics science? Some theoretical reflections. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 18(1), 015005. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/aca24b
  11. Datteri, E. (2021), “The creation of phenomena in interactive biorobotics”, Biological Cybernetics, 115:6, pp. 629-642, Open Access, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00422-021-00900-x
  12. Datteri, E. (2021), “Interactive biorobotics”, Synthese, 198, p. 7577-7595, ISSN: 0039-7857, doi: 10.1007/s11229-020-02533-2
  13. Datteri, E. (2020), “The Logic of Interactive Biorobotics”, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. Bionics and Biomimetics, 8:637, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00637
  14. Pennazio, V., Fedeli, L., Crifaci, G., Datteri, E., “Robotica e mondi virtuali per lo sviluppo delle abilità sociali nei bambini con autismo: una riflessione metodologica”, Sistemi Intelligenti, 32:1, pp. 139-154.
  15. Pucciarelli, M., Virgulti, L., Farina, E., Datteri, E. (2020), “Robot non umanoidi e non sociali per lo studio dell’attribuzione di intenzionalità in bambini con autismo”, Sistemi Intelligenti, 32:1, 107-122.
  16. Datteri (2020), “Biological accuracy in large-scale brain simulations“, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences, 42:5, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40656-020-0299-1
  17. Datteri, E. (2019), “The epistemic roles of automata from cybernetics to contemporary robotics”, Rosmini Studies, 6, 245-256.
  18. Datteri, E., Schiaffonati, V. (2019), “Robotic simulations, simulations of robots”, Minds and Machines 29:1, 109-125 (Scopus).
  19. Di Maio, G., Murgia, E., Datteri, E. (2018), “I bambini e la robot-etologia: riflessioni epistemologiche sugli stili di spiegazione del comportamento dei robot”, Mondo Digitale, 75 (Scopus).
  20. Datteri, E. (2017), “The epistemic value of brain-machine interfaces for the study of the brain”, Minds and Machines 27:2, 287–313 (Scopus).
  21. Datteri, E., Zecca, L. (2016) “The Game of Science: an Experiment in Robo-Ethology with Primary School Children”, IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine, 23:2, 24-29 (Scopus).
  22. Datteri, E., Laudisa, F. (2015), “Large-scale simulations of brain mechanisms: beyond the synthetic method”, Paradigmi, 23:3, 23-46.
  23. Datteri, E., Bozzi, G., Zecca, L. (2015), “Il ‘gioco dello scienziato’ per l’apprendimento delle competenze scientifiche nella scuola primaria”, Tecnologie Didattiche, 23:3.
  24. Datteri, E., Laudisa, F. (2014), “Box-and-arrow explanations need not be more abstract than neuroscientific mechanism descriptions”, Frontiers in Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 5:464 (doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00464; Scopus).
  25. Datteri (2014), “La robotica al servizio delle neuroscienze: stato dell’arte e problemi aperti”, Mondo Digitale, 55 (Scopus).
  26. Datteri, E., Zecca, L., Laudisa, F., Castiglioni, M. (2013), “Learning to explain: the role of educational robots in science education”, Themes in Science & Technology Education, 6:1, 29-38.
  27. Datteri, E. (2013), “Predicting the Long-Term Effects of Human-Robot Interaction: A Reflection on Responsibility in Medical Robotics”, Science and Engineering Ethics, 19:1, 139-60 (doi: 10.1007/s11948-011-9301-3; PMID: 21800171; Scopus).
  28. Datteri, E., Laudisa, F. (2012), “Model testing, prediction and experimental protocols in neuroscience: a case study”, Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, 43:3, 602-610 (doi: 10.1016/j.shpsc.2012.04.001; ISSN: 13698486; ISI: 22627322; Scopus).
  29. Datteri, E. (2011), “Prediction and experimental protocols in neuroscience: a case study”, in Logic and Philosophy of Science, 9:1, 373-379 (ISSN: 1826-1043).
  30. Datteri, E., Laudisa, F. (2010), “Simulazione e spiegazione: il ruolo delle leggi nei modelli neuroscientifici”, Sistemi Intelligenti, 22:1, 89-118 (doi: 10.1422/31951).
  31. Datteri, E., (2009), “Simulation experiments in bionics: a regulative methodological perspective”, Biology and Philosophy, 24:3, 301-324 (doi: 10.1007/s10539-008-9133-y; Scopus: BIOPE; ISI: 000266477800003).
  32. Trautteur, G., Datteri, E., Santoro, M. (2008), “Empirically testable models are needed for understanding visual prediction”, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, commentario su Nijhawan, R., “Visual Prediction: Psychophysics and neurophysiology of compensation for time delays”, 31:2, 217-218 (doi: 10.1017/S0140525X08004019; Scopus: BBSCD; ISI: 000258542000048).
  33. Salvini, P., Datteri, E., Laschi, C., Dario, P. (2008), “Scientific models and ethical issues in hybrid bionic systems research”, AI and Society, 22:3, 431-448 (doi: 10.1007/s00146-007-0158-6; ISI: 10316078; Scopus).
  34. Datteri, E., Tamburrini, G. (2007), “Biorobotic Experiments for the Discovery of Biological Mechanisms”, Philosophy of Science, 74:3, 409-430 (doi: 10.1086/522095; ISI: 000250832200007; Scopus).
  35. Datteri, E., Hosni, H., Tamburrini, G. (2005), “Machine Learning from Examples: A Non-Inductivist Analysis”, Logic and Philosophy of Science, 3:1 (ISSN: 1826-1043).
  36. Tamburrini, G., Datteri, E. (2005), “Machine Experiments and Theoretical Modelling: from Cybernetic Methodology to Neuro-Robotics”, Minds and Machines, 15:3-4, 335-358 (doi: 10.1007/s11023-005-2924-x; Scopus: MMACE; ISI: 00023420500000

Peer-reviewed articles published in Italian journals

  1. Silvia Larghi & Edoardo Datteri. (2025). Le scienze cognitive del senso comune. Sistemi intelligenti, (3), 445–463. https://doi.org/10.1422/119083
  2. Pisaneschi, G., Datteri, E. (2024), “L’interazione tra umani e robot come gioco di finzione”, Sistemi Intelligenti, 36(1), 9-24.
  3. Datteri, E., Zecca, L. (2018), “Metodi e tecnologie per l’uso didattico dei robot”, Mondo Digitale 75 (Scopus).
  4. Datteri, E., Zecca, L. (2017), “Theoretical vocabularies and styles of explanation of robot behaviours in children”, Research on Education and Media, Open Access, doi: https://doi.org/10.1515/rem-2017-0002
  5. Zecca, L., Datteri, E. (2017), “I robot nella Scuola Secondaria di Primo Grado: un’analisi degli stili di conduzione degli insegnanti”, Pedagogika, XXI
  6. Datteri, E. (2013), “I ‘Veicoli pensanti’ nell’immaginario della robotica contemporanea”, Sistemi Intelligenti, 3:25, 617-635 (doi: 10.1422/76305; Scopus).
  7. Datteri, E. (2010), “Danni senza anomalie: questioni di responsabilità nella robotica medica”, Informatica e Diritto, 1, 59-80.
  8. Datteri, E. (2007), “Integrazione uomo-macchina: modelli neuroscientifici e problemi di controllabilità”, Annuario di Etica, 4, 73-86.
  9. Fabris, A., Bartolommei, S., Datteri, E. (2007), “Which Ethics for Robotics?/Quale Etica per la Robotica?”, Teoria, 3:2, 7-17.

Book chapters

  1. Datteri, E (2024), “From the Restless COG to the Yawning Robot: Humanoid Robotics as a Model-Based Science”, in Ippoliti, E., Magnani, L., Arfini, S. (eds.), Model-Based Reasoning, Abductive Cognition, Creativity. ​Inferences and Models in Science, Logic, Language, and Technology, Springer.
  2. Datteri, E., Larghi, S. (2024), “La psicologia dei robot”, in Galletti M., Zipoli Caiani, S. (eds), Filosofia dell’Intelligenza Artificiale, Il Mulino.
  3. Zampini, L., Farina, E., Datteri, E. (2022), “Robots for the study of false belief attribution in autistic children: An exploratory study”, in Datteri, E., Zecca, L. (a cura di), Inclusive Science Education and Robotics, Franco Angeli, ISBN: 9788835150640
  4. Datteri, E. (2022), “I robot come strumenti di conoscenza”. In Grimaldi, R. (a cura di), La società dei robot, Mondadori.
  5. Datteri, E., Zecca, L. (2021), “Le implicazioni etiche degli usi educativi e didattici dei robot”, in Fossa, F., Schiaffonati, V., Tamburrini, G. (a cura di), Automi e persone. Introduzione all’etica dell’intelligenza artificiale e della robotica. Carocci, Roma.
  6. Merisio, C., Bozzi, G., Datteri, E. (2021), “There is No Such Thing as a ‘Trial and Error Strategy’”. In Malvezzi, M., Alimisis, D., Moro, M. (a cura di), Education in & with Robotics to Foster 21st-Century Skills. EDUROBOTICS 2021. STUDIES IN COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, 982, p. 190-201, Springer, Cham, ISBN: 978-3-030-77021-1, ISSN: 1860-949X, doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-77022-8_17
  7. Datteri, E., (2021), “Robots and Bionic Systems as Experimental Platforms for the Study of Animal and Human Behaviour”. In Chiodo, A., Schiaffonati, V. (a cura di), Italian Philosophy of Technology. Socio-Cultural, Legal, Scientific and Aesthetic Perspectives on Technology. vol. 35, p. 181-197, Springer Nature, ISBN: 978-3-030-54521-5, doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-54522-2_12
  8. Datteri, E., Cabitza, F. (2021), “Gli errori nella programmazione di sistemi robotici”, in Bozzi, G., Datteri, E., Zecca, L. (a cura di), Interazione bambini-robot. Riflessioni teoriche, risultati sperimentali, esperienze, Franco Angeli, Milano.
  9. Datteri, E. (2020), “Gli automi come strumenti di conoscenza. Alcune questioni di metodo scientifico”, In Pacitto, M.F. (a cura di), Convegni cassinati (pp. 135-152). Aracne.
  10. Datteri, E. (2019), “Large-scale computer models of the brain: is there a ‘right’ level of detail?”, in Berkich, D., D’Alfonso, M.V., On the Cognitive, Ethical, and Scientific Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence, Springer, 205-219 (DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-01800-9_11).
  11. Datteri, E. (2017), “Biorobotics”, in L. Magnani T. Bertolotti (eds.), Springer Handbook of Model Based Science, Springer, Heildelberg/Berlin, 817-837.
  12. Datteri, E. (2015), “Intelligenza Artificiale e scienze della natura”, in P. Pecere (ed), Il libro della natura. II. Scienze e filosofia da Einstein alle neuroscienze contemporanee, Carocci, Roma, 265-300 (ISBN: 978-88-430-7833-2).
  13. Datteri, E. (2014), “Biorobotics: A Methodological Primer”. In Amigoni, F., Schiaffonati, V. (eds), Methods and Experimental Techiques in Computer Engineering, Springer, 71-86 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-00272-9_5).
  14. Datteri, E., Tamburrini, G. (2013), “Robotic weapons and democratic decision-making”, in Hilgendorf, E., Günther, J. P., Robotik und Gesetzgebung, Nomos, 211-229 (ISBN: 978-3-8329-7705-4).
  15. Datteri, E., Tamburrini, G. (2010), “Robotica medica e società”, voce enciclopedica dell’Opera XXI Secolo – Il corpo e la mente”, Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Fondato da Giovanni Treccani, 339-348.
  16. Datteri, E., Tamburrini, G., (2009) “Ethical reflections on health care robotics”, in R. Capurro and M. Nagenborg (Eds.): Ethics and Robotics. Heidelberg: Akad.Verlagsgesellschaft (ISBN 978-3-89838-087-4 (AKA) and 978-1-60750-008-7 (IOS Press), 35-48.
  17. Datteri, E., Tamburrini, G. (2009), “Robotica, etica e conoscenza scientifica”, in Fuschetto, C., Greco P. (ed.), Scienza e coscienza delle macchine, CUEN, Napoli, 119-131 (ISBN: 8871467701).
  18. Datteri, E. (2008), “Intelligenza Artificiale: Elaborazione simbolica e coordinazione senso-motoria”, in Rainone, A., Gensini, S. (eds), La mente. Tradizioni filosofiche, prospettive scientifiche, paradigmi contemporanei, Carocci, Roma, 237-254. (ISBN: 978-88-430-4693-5).
  19. Datteri, E., Tamburrini, G. (2006), “Meccanismi di coordinazione sensomotoria e modelli computazionali”, in Cherubini, P., Giaretta, P., Marraffa, M., Paternoster, A. (eds), Cognizione e computazione. Problemi, metodi e prospettive delle spiegazioni computazionali nelle scienze cognitive, CLEUP, Padova, 77-96 (ISBN 88-6129-010-8).
  20. Datteri, E., Tamburrini, G. (2004), “Bio-robotica e spiegazione del comportamento adattativo non intenzionale”, in Jervolino, D., Pititto, R. (eds), Linguaggi – Fenomenologia – Ricerche cognitive, 3, 173-190 (ISBN 88-7325-082-3).

Conference Proceedings

  1. Thellman, S., Bergsten, K., Datteri, E., & Ziemke, T. (2026). Realist, Anti-realist, or Agnostic? Exploring Folk-Ontological Stances toward Robot Minds. Companion Proceedings of the 21st ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, 332–335. https://doi.org/10.1145/3776734.3794410
  2. Larghi, S., Caldiroli, C. L., Lapomarda, L., & Datteri, E. (2026). Exploring Mentalising Tendencies Toward a Non-Humanoid Robot in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study. In M. Staffa, J.-J. Cabibihan, B. Siciliano, S. S. Ge, L. Bodenhagen, A. Tapus, S. Rossi, F. Cavallo, L. Fiorini, M. Matarese, & H. He (Eds.), Social Robotics + AI (Vol. 16131, pp. 399–412). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-2379-5_27
  3. Lapomarda, L., Barco, A., & Datteri, E. (2026). A Non-geographical Approach to the Study of Culture-Mediated Acceptance of Social Robots. In J. Proença, R. Fervari, M. A. Martins, R. Kahle, & G. Pluck (Eds.), Software Engineering and Formal Methods. SEFM 2024 Collocated Workshops (Vol. 15551, pp. 219–236). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-94748-3_17
  4. Augello, A., Datteri, E., Lieto, A., Rausa, M., & Zagni, N. (2026). RAGGAE for HERBS: Testing the Explanatory Performance of Ontology-Powered LLMs for Human Explanation of Robotic Behaviors. In M. Staffa, J.-J. Cabibihan, B. Siciliano, S. S. Ge, L. Bodenhagen, A. Tapus, S. Rossi, F. Cavallo, L. Fiorini, M. Matarese, & H. He (Eds.), Social Robotics + AI (Vol. 16133, pp. 558–569). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-2398-6_37
  5. Augello, A., Rausa, M., Datteri, E., Zagni, N., & Lieto, A. (2025). How are people’s explanations of the behaviour of robots structured? An exploratory study and discussion. 2025 IEEE Conference on Pervasive and Intelligent Computing (PICom), 66–73. https://doi.org/10.1109/PICom68402.2025.00015
  6. Larghi, S., & Datteri, E. (2024). Mentalistic Stances Towards AI Systems: Beyond the Intentional Stance. In Aldini A. (Ed.), Lect. Notes Comput. Sci.: 14568 LNCS (pp. 28–41). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66021-4_2
  7. Datteri, E. (2021), “The methods of biorobotics”, in Proceedings of ALIFS 2021: The 2021 Conference on Artificial Life. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1162/isal_a_00378, https://direct.mit.edu/isal/proceedings/isal/33/38/102947
  8. Cabitza, F., Campagner, A., Datteri, E. (2020), “To Err is (only) Human. Reflections on How to Move from Accuracy to Trust for Medical AI”, In Ceci, F., Prencipe, A., Spagnoletti, P. (a cura di), Exploring Innovation in a Digital World: Cultural and Organizational Challenges. Proceedings of the Annual conference of the Italian Chapter of AIS, 2020 (ISBN: 978-3-030-87841-2), pp. 36-49, Cham, Springer. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87842-9_4
  9. Datteri, E., Zecca, L. (2015), “Il ‘gioco dello scienziato’: un robot per imparare a spiegare”, Mondo Digitale, 58 (ISSN 1720-898X; Scopus) [http://mondodigitale.aicanet.net/2015-3/dida5/didamatica2015_submission_60.pdf].
  10. Datteri E., Zecca L., Laudisa F., Castiglioni M. (2012), “Explaining robotic behaviors: a case study in science education”, negli atti del terzo convegno internazionale Teaching Robotics Teaching with Robotics: Integrating Robotics in School Curriculum, Riva del Garda, 20 Aprile 2012.
  11. Datteri, E. (2010), “Bionic simulation of biological systems: a methodological analysis”, in D’Agostino, M., Giorello, G., Laudisa, F., Pievani, T., Sinigaglia, C., New Essays in Logic and Philosophy of Science, Atti del convegno SILFS 2007 – International Conference of the Italian Society for Logic and Philosophy of Science, 8-10 Ottobre 2007, College Publications, London, 711-723 (ISBN: 1848900031).
  12. Datteri, E. (2010), “Simulazioni, spiegazioni e generalizzazioni nelle scienze cognitive”, Sistemi Intelligenti, Atti del Sesto Convegno dell’Associazione Italiana di Scienze Cognitive, AISC 09, 22:3, 459-466 (doi: 10.1422/33545).
  13. Tamburrini, G., Datteri, E. (2008), “Computation and the explanation of intelligent behaviours: ethologically motivated restart”, in Andretta, A., Kearnes, K., Zambella, D., Logic Colloquium 2004, Lecture Notes in Logic, Cambridge University Press, 168-186 (ISBN: 9780521884242).
  14. Datteri, E., Tamburrini, G. (2006), “Bio-robotic experiments and scientific method”, in Magnani, L., Dossena, R. (eds), Computing, Philosophy and Cognition, College Publications, London, 397-410 (ISBN: 1-904987-24-9).
  15. Datteri, E., Hosni, H., Tamburrini, G. (2006), “An inductionless and default-based analysis of machine learning procedures”, in Magnani, L. (ed.), Model Based Reasoning in Science and Engineering, College Publications, 379-399 (ISBN: 1-904987-23-0).
  16. Tamburrini, G., Datteri, E., (2005), “Computation and the explanation of intelligent behaviours: ethologically motivated restart”, abstract pubblicato sul Bulletin of Symbolic Logic, 11:2, 254-255.
  17. Datteri, E., Asuni, G., Teti, G., Laschi, C., Dario, P., Guglielmelli, E. (2004), “Experimental Analysis of the Conditions of Applicability of a Robot Sensorimotor Coordination Scheme based on Expected Perception”, in the Proceedings of IROS 2004, 2004 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Sendai, Japan, September 28 – October 2 2004, Vol. 2, 1311 – 1316 (doi: 10.1109/IROS.2004.1389577).
  18. Datteri, E., Teti, G., Laschi, C., Tamburrini, G., Dario, P., Guglielmelli, E. (2003), “Expected perception in robots: a biologically driven perception-action scheme”, in Proceedings of ICAR 2003, 11th International Conference on Advanced Robotics, Vol. 3, 1405-1410 (Scopus).
  19. Datteri, E., Teti, G., Laschi, C., Tamburrini, G., Dario, P., Guglielmelli, E. (2003), “Expected perception: an anticipation-based perception-action scheme in robots”, in Proceedings of IROS 2003, 2003 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Las Vegas, Nevada, Vol. 1, 934- 939 (doi: 10.1109/IROS.2003.1250748, ISI: 8380365, Scopus: 62036).
  20. Laschi, C., Teti, G., Tamburrini, G., Datteri, E., Dario, P. (2001), “Adaptable semi-autonomy in personal robots”, in Proceedings of the 10th IEEE International Workshop on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, 18-21 Sept. 2001, Bordeaux-Paris, 152-157 (doi: 10.1109/ROMAN.2001.981894).