Dr. Muhammad Haroon Yousaf
Director of Operations
Dr. Muhammad Haroon Yousaf is an academic and researcher with over two decades of experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computer Vision and Robotics. He currently serves as the Director of the Swarm Robotics Laboratory at the National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA), where he leads multidisciplinary R&D efforts focused on intelligent robotic systems, swarm intelligence, and AI-driven automation for societal impact. He also holds the position of Chairman, Department of Computer Engineering at the University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, Pakistan.
Dr. Haroon has pioneered multiple UAV-centric initiatives, including the development of XAVE-X, a fully indigenous AI-powered drone designed for real-time aerial surveillance and disaster response. His work bridges both academic rigor and practical deployment, having delivered commercialized robotic platforms such as SIMBOT for STEM education and edge AI solutions for on-board visual data processing in UAVs. His projects are deeply rooted in applied innovation, with direct relevance to humanitarian technologies, smart systems, and environmental monitoring. He has led and collaborated on numerous funded projects across Pakistan, the UK, and South Africa, addressing challenges such as behavior recognition, multimodal learning, and deepfake detection. His portfolio reflects strong expertise in UAV-specific embedded platforms, enabling real-time, autonomous decision-making in dynamic environments.
Beyond research, Dr. Haroon plays a strategic role in shaping R&D ecosystems, fostering industry-academia collaboration, and mentoring young innovators in robotics and AI. He is passionate about leveraging drone technology for real-world applications, particularly in underserved and high-risk communities.