Papers
79
Total Citations
5,192
H-Index
35
About
Ben Robins is a pioneering researcher in assistive robotics and human-robot interaction, best known for his groundbreaking work on using humanoid robots to support children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As a core contributor to the long-running Aurora project, Robins has spent over two decades investigating how robotic systems can encourage social interaction, communication, and collaborative play in children who face significant challenges in these areas. His most celebrated contribution is the development and deployment of KASPAR, a minimally expressive humanoid robot specifically designed to serve as a social mediator for children with autism — a body of work that has collectively attracted hundreds of citations and influenced researchers and clinicians worldwide. His 2005 paper on robotic assistants in autism therapy alone has garnered nearly 700 citations, reflecting the field-defining nature of his research. Robins has demonstrated through repeated empirical studies that carefully designed robots can help bridge the gap from isolation to communication, with findings on robot appearance, repeated exposure, and joint attention shaping best practices in the field. His interdisciplinary approach, blending robotics, psychology, and education, has made him one of the most impactful figures in socially assistive robotics research.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Robot-mediated joint attention in children with autism286 citations · 2004
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- 8Effects of Repeated Exposure to a Humanoid Robot on Children with Autism180 citations · 2004
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