Olcay Connor
Papers
6
Total Citations
108
H-Index
6
About
Olcay Connor’s research lies at the intersection of robotics, wearable technology, and autism intervention, where she pioneers non-pharmacological tools to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her work focuses on using social robots and wearable sensors to detect, predict, and mitigate challenging behaviours—such as meltdowns—often experienced by autistic children during therapy. In her most cited study (2018, 25 citations), Connor demonstrated how robotic trains can serve both educational and therapeutic roles, leveraging children’s affinity for structured, predictable interactions. Her 2021 and 2023 papers (each with 24 citations) broke new ground by using heart rate data from wearable sensors to predict challenging behaviours in real time during robot-assisted sessions, enabling proactive intervention. Connor also explored the cultural phenomenon of Thomas the Tank Engine as a social storytelling agent for autistic children (2015), informing the design of more relatable social robots. Her pilot study on mitigating meltdowns (2018, 19 citations) further underscores her commitment to translating lab findings into practical, compassionate tools for families and therapists. With a career spanning over a decade, Connor’s work has earned her recognition for blending engineering precision with deep empathy, offering innovative pathways for inclusive, technology-driven care.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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