Yanting Wu

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About

Yanting Wu is a leading researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and developmental robotics, with a primary focus on leveraging social robots to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her work investigates how robotic agents can enhance social communication skills, particularly gaze behavior and joint attention—a foundational deficit in ASD. In her most cited study (2019, 37 citations), Wu demonstrated that interaction with social robots significantly improves gaze toward the face in children with ASD, though the transfer to spontaneous joint attention remains nuanced. Her earlier foundational work (2018) systematically compared robot versus human initiators, revealing that robots can uniquely facilitate certain social responses in ASD children compared to typically developing peers. Wu’s contributions are pivotal in shaping evidence-based robot-assisted interventions, bridging robotics, cognitive science, and clinical psychology. Her research not only advances our understanding of human-robot social dynamics but also offers practical pathways for assistive technologies in special education. With growing citation impact, Wu is recognized for pioneering rigorous experimental paradigms that quantify the therapeutic potential of social robots, making her a key voice in the future of inclusive, technology-driven developmental support.