System and method for scalable cloud-robotics based face recognition and face analysis

A system and method for performing distributed facial recognition divides processing steps between a user engagement device/robot, having lower processing power, and a remotely located server, having significantly more processing power. Images captured by the user engagement device/robot are processed at the device/robot by applying a first set of image processing steps that includes applying a first face detection. First processed images having at least one detected face is transmitted to the server, whereat a second set of image processing steps are applied to determine a stored user facial image matching the detected face of the first processed image. At least one user property associated to the given matching user facial image is then transmitted to the user engagement device/robot. An interactive action personalized to the user can further be performed at the user engagement device/robot.