Yeojin Amy Ahn

Papers

Total Citations

103

H-Index

About

Yeojin Amy Ahn is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of human-robot interaction and assistive technology, whose work focuses on developing emotionally intelligent robotic systems for therapeutic and educational applications. Her major contributions center on using robots as objective, repeatable social partners to examine and support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In her highly cited 2016 study (59 citations), Ahn demonstrated how emotional robots can reveal distinct play patterns and affective responses in children with and without ASD, offering a novel diagnostic and engagement tool. She further advanced the field by developing a thermal emotion classifier (29 citations), enabling robots to detect human emotional states through thermal imaging—a breakthrough for long-term, adaptive interactions in healthcare and education. Ahn’s work is notable for its dual impact: advancing fundamental understanding of ASD through controlled robotic stimuli, while engineering practical systems that respond to users’ real-time emotional cues. Her research has been recognized for its potential to transform how robots serve as tutors, home assistants, and therapeutic aids, making her a leading voice in creating more empathetic, responsive machines for vulnerable populations.