Contact Dr Seemal Asif
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 758255
- Email: s.asif@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Aerospace Manufacturing
- Industrial Automation
- Industrial Ergonomics and Human Factors
Background
Dr. Seemal Asif has over 14 years of experience in research development and delivery in the field of Automation, Robotics, and Systems Integration. Dr Asif is the Co-Investigator on a £1.3 million EPSRC-funded project (EP/V051180/1, 'Reconfigurable robotics for responsive manufacture - R3M'), a £4.8 million EPSRC-funded Made Smarter Innovation Project (EP/V062158/1) and ATI-funded Airbus project for Module -Positioning (AutoRamp; TRL: 5-7). I currently co-manage these projects from Cranfield University (CU) side and look after the research deliverables, providing research direction to Research Assistants, horizontally collaborating with research partners and developing the architecture for systems. The projects require collaboration and communication between academic and industry partners including Airbus, Rolls Royce, Spirit Aero and GKN.
Dr Asif has been involved in several projects sponsored by Airbus, EPSRC and Innovate UK. She has currently one ATI funded grant for 3D Xray Imaging and one Airbus funded project for the large structure positioning automation. She has been instrumental in setting up the Human-robot Interaction for gesture control. One of her research projects focuses on the Relatime Error Correction and Compensation for the Industrial Robots on an open Network. She has an interest in Swarm Intelligence and Hybrid communication. Her work for assembly and automation has been recognised and respected widely.
She has completed her Ph.D. in Robotics and Intelligent Automations at Cranfield University. Seemal received her MSc Software Engineering from the University of York in 2010 and then joined the Intelligent Automation group at the Centre for Structures, Assembly, and Intelligent Automation at Cranfield University as a Research Fellow. Seemal has worked for 4 years in the software engineering industry in an institutional environment where she had the opportunity to research supportive tools for the University. During this time, she worked on multiple projects at various levels from developer to project manager.
She is interested in researching automation, robotics, intelligent automation, machine learning, artificial intelligence, software engineering, formal methods, and control theory. Being naturally inclined towards academia, she finished her MSc Computer Science in 2009 and obtained Eureka Scholarship for the MSc Software Engineering in York. She is a gold medallist for both her Undergrad and Masters.
As part of Cranfield University, she developed the Flexible Cell Coordinator (FLEXA). Flexa was the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) project with the involvement of companies like Volvo Aero, Rolls-Royce, Avio, MTU (Germany), etc. She teaches and supervises MSc and PhD students in Robotics, Machine Learning, and IoT and Artificial Intelligence.
She is registered as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) by British Engineering Council and recognized as a Fellow of the British Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in the UK and a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET).
Research opportunities
MSc by research and PhD opportunities are available in the following main areas:
Imitation Learning
Intelligent Robotic Hand
Automated Robotic Welding
Robotic inspection in confined spaces
Robot Swarm Communication Network - A Heterogeneous system
Applied AI and Machine Learning
If you are interested in any of those topics or you may have your own idea, please first discuss with Dr Seemal Asif (s.asif@cranfield.ac.uk) email to arrange the time.
Students are normally expected to identify their own source of funding, e.g. self-funding, an employer, or a nationally-funded scholarship. From time to time, we have funding for PhD scholarships - we always advertise these at https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/research/phd?Keyword=&Theme=aerospace
Current activities
Machine Learning
Internet of Things
System Integration
Artificial Intelligence
IoT 4.0 and 5.0
Robotics
Human-Robot Integration
Intelligent automation
Software Engineering, Design and Architecture
Machine Vision and Image Processing
Formal Methods
Research Students:
Mikel B. Viso (2023-2029)
Emmanuel Izuwa (2023-2029)
Fahad Khan (2023-2029)
Sami Alanazi (2022-2025)
Shifan Li (2020-2023)
Irene Bernardino Sanchez (2022-23)
Jingjing Huang (2022-23)
Hugo Marmonier (2022-23)
Jiaqi Li (2021-22)
AngelosDIMAKOS (2020-21)
AshishJAISWAL(2020-21)
ZhengweiJIN(2020-21)
LalithaORUGANTI(2020-21)
DanielWOODHALL(2020-21)
Robert Zoumboulis-Airey (2020-21)
Ohima Agans-oliha (2020-21)
Daniella Alvarado (2019-20)
Research Titles:
Sensor-Based Object Detection and Localisation for Robot Manipulator
Sensor-Based Object Tracking and Real-time Localisation for Robot Manipulator
FOD Detection and Prevention on Single Aisle Aircraft
Framework for a Flexible and Reconfigurable Robot Cell design
A Framework for Flexible Metrology System for Product Assembly
Model to predict Human Emotion for Adaptive and Smart Human Robot Collaboration in Automation and Manufacturing
Deep Fake its Detection and Societal impacts
Detecting Anomaly Traffic in IoT with Low Computation Overhead by Machine Learning Techniques
Artificial Robotic hand for customising applications
Framework of Robotic GMAW Process in Simulation
Framework for Robot Swarm Communication Network - A Heterogeneous system
Navigating in an unmapped environment with automatic obstacle avoidance
Imitation Learning for performing a task
Automated robotic welding station
Application of different Machine Learning techniques on a Robot to enable multi-purposeness
A Framework for Controlling Multiple Industrial Robots using Mobile Applications
Imitation Learning of Bionic Hand
Module Leader for:
Robotics Control
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Signal Analysis
Group Project - Applications of Computational Engineering Design (MSc CSTE - Computer Vision)
Clients
- Airbus SE
- Wootzano Ltd
- Haybeesee Ltd
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Asif S, Bueno M, Ferreira P, Anandan P, Zhang Z, .... (2025). Rapid and automated configuration of robot manufacturing cells. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 92
- Alanazi S, Asif S, Caird-Daley A & Moulitsas I. (2025). Unmasking deepfakes: a multidisciplinary examination of social impacts and regulatory responses. Human-Intelligent Systems Integration
- Alanazi S, Asif S & Moulitsas I. (2024). Examining the societal impact and legislative requirements of deepfake technology: a comprehensive study. International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 14
- Alanazi S & Asif S. (2024). Exploring deepfake technology: creation, consequences and countermeasures. Human-Intelligent Systems Integration, 6(1)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2023). Managing delays for realtime error correction and compensation of an industrial robot in an open network. Machines, 11(9)
- Xu Z, Maria A, Chelli K, De Premare TD, Bilbao X, .... (2023). Vortex and core detection using computer vision and machine learning methods. European Journal of Computational Mechanics, 32(5)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2022). Realtime calibration of an industrial robot. Applied System Innovation, 5(5)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2021). Kinematics analysis of 6-DoF articulated robot with spherical wrist. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2021(1)
- Alvarado D & Asif S. (2021). A framework for controlling multiple industrial robots using mobile applications. International Journal of Mechatronics and Automotive Research, 3(1)
- Dimakos A, Woodhall D & Asif S. (2021). A study on centralised and decentralised swarm robotics architecture for part delivery system. Academic Journal of Engineering Studies, 2(3)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2016). Contactless medium scale industrial robot collaboration. Advances in Robotics & Automation, 05(01)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2016). Enhanced cell controller for aerospace manufacturing. Advances in Robotics & Automation, 05(02)
- Tang G, Asif S & Webb P. (2015). The integration of contactless static pose recognition and dynamic hand motion tracking control system for industrial human and robot collaboration. Industrial Robot: An International Journal, 42(5)
- Webb P, Asif S, Hogger S, Kosche T & Kiernan P. (2015). Advanced flexible automation cell control for aerospace manufacturing. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 87(2)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2015). Software system integration - Middleware - an overview. International Journal of Computer Applications, 121(5)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2015). Networked control system – an overview. International Journal of Computer Applications, 115(6)
- Asif S. A Study on Centralised and Decentralised Swarm Robotics Architecture for Part Delivery System. Academic Journal of Engineering Studies, 2(3)
Conference Papers
- Pouloupatis K, Khan F, Asif S & Blundell J. (2025). A Comparison of Underload and Overload Upon Situation Awareness in Commercial Aviation: Combining Subjective, Objective, and Physiological Measurements
- Asif S, Hryshchenko Sumina Y, Holden M, Contino M, Adiuku N, .... (2024). Advancements in 3D x-ray imaging: development and application of a twin robot system
- Khan F, Asif S & Webb P. (2024). Human facial emotion recognition for adaptive human robot collaboration in manufacturing
- Bueno M, Bernardino I, Asif S & Webb P. (2024). Unlocking the potential of robot manipulators: seamless integration framework
- Viso MB, Huang J, Asif S, Khan F & Webb P. (2024). Towards robot software abstraction: ROS 2-based framework for object handling within a robot cell
- Alanazi S & Asif S. (2023). Understanding deepfakes: a comprehensive analysis of creation, generation, and detection
- Khan F, Asif S & Webb P. (2023). Communication components for Human Intention Prediction – a survey
- Asif S. (2022). Cost effective welding system by using AR3 robot
- Asif S & Webb P. (2013). An improved cell controller for the aerospace manufacturing
- Webb Philip & Asif Seemal . (2012). Advanced Flexible Automation Cell
- Seemal Asif . (2010). Translating the TID Station into Perfect : Poster
- Shrinah A, Sotoodeh Bahraini M, Khan F, Asif S, Lohse N, .... On the Design of Human-Robot Collaboration Gestures
- Asif S & Li S. How Robot Arms can be used for Bin Picking and Shelf Picking
Books
- Khan F, Asif S & Webb P. (2025). Human facial emotion recognition for adaptive human robot collaboration in manufacturing In Lecture Notes in Computer Science (15052 LNAI). Springer.
- Asif S, Hryshchenko Y, Holden M, Contino M, Adiuku N, .... (2025). Advancements in 3D X-Ray Imaging: Development and Application of a Twin Robot System In Lecture Notes in Computer Science (15051 LNAI). Springer Nature Switzerland.
