Hafizan Hashim

About

Dr. Hafizan Hashim is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of humanoid robotics and assistive therapy, with a primary focus on human-robot interaction (HRI) for individuals with cognitive impairments and autism spectrum disorder. Her foundational work centers on the NAO humanoid robot, where she authored a seminal review on its control and motion systems—a highly cited paper (121 citations) that established NAO as an accessible platform for research and education. Dr. Hashim’s major contributions include developing a novel face detection technique for the NAO robot to track children with autism during robotic assistive therapy, a breakthrough that enables more responsive and engaging interactions. Her research further explores robots as adjunct therapy tools for cognitive rehabilitation and communication skill development, with studies demonstrating how structured robot-based interventions can augment two-way communication in children with autism. Through her innovative work, Dr. Hashim has shown that affordable humanoid robots can serve as effective therapeutic aids, bridging engineering and clinical practice to improve quality of life for vulnerable populations.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Humanoid robot NAO: Review of control and motion exploration

   121 citations · 2011
2. 2
   Face detection technique of Humanoid Robot NAO for application in robotic assistive therapy

   21 citations · 2011
3. 3
   Robots as Adjunct Therapy: Reflections and Suggestions in Rehabilitation for People with Cognitive Impairments

   8 citations · 2013
4. 4
   Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) for Children with Autism to Augment Communication Skills

   4 citations · 2013

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links