From past to future: a systematic literature review and its trending avenues on human–robot interaction

Purpose This study aims to provide a systematic literature review (SLR) of human–robot interaction (HRI) using the Scopus databases. For this purpose, this research synthesizes the prevailing literature on robotics from 2005–2025 and identifies the present status, gaps and future directions in the respective domain. Design/methodology/approach This study used a combined SLR and bibliometric analysis approach. A carefully formulated search string was used to extract data from the Scopus database. The final data set included 298 documents for bibliometric analysis, of which 60 articles were selected for SLR. Findings The study’s findings indicate that research on HRI has significantly increased over the last decade due to technological advancements. This literature review reveals that most studies were conducted within the information and technology industry. The authors also identify six clusters that reflect distinct themes and sub-themes in the respective domain. Practical implications The findings offer valuable guidance to artificial intelligence developers, policymakers and other stakeholders, highlighting the essential role and growing necessity of HRI across multiple domains. This study is also a valuable resource for future researchers in robotics by advancing theoretical and practical knowledge. Originality/value To the authors’ best knowledge, there is a dearth of literature synthesizing studies on HRI. To bridge the existing knowledge gap, a comprehensive review of HRI is presented to understand the respective domain. This research expands and magnifies the intellectual boundaries of social robots and proposes a multidisciplinary approach for future studies.