Our People - Robotics

Research Interests:

• Assistive Robotics and Rehabilitation Engineering

• Neuromechanical Modeling; Robot-Based System ID
• Human-Robot Interaction and Neural Control
• Movement Analysis and Sensorimotor Deficit Modeling
• Smart Implants and Prosthetics
• Intelligent Systems and Machine Learning 

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Research Interests:

My research program combines a fundamental in-vitro research approach, examining the time varying response of the lumbar spine tissues, with in-vivo human research, examining biological responses to cumulative loading exposure from both pain generating and tissue altering/injuring perspectives. Work in my laboratories involves developing approaches to assess workplace cumulative loading exposure and injury in conjunction with in-vitro tissue mechanics studies investigating the injury pathways from repetitive loading. Currently, quantifying the influence of modifiers such as repetition and magnitude of exposure to establish the relationship between cumulative loading and low back pain is a major focus in my research. This knowledge will complement existing epidemiological data, linking cumulative loading and low back pain, for setting exposure limits and helping to prevent low back injuries.

Google Scholar

Research Interests:

• Machining of Tissue-Engineered Bone Implants

• Biomanufacturing

• Precision motion control (high speed machine tools, robots, and electronic/semiconductor manufacturing equipment)

• Modeling and identification

• Optimal trajectory planning

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

[Engineering News] October 19, 2016 "Researchers join advanced manufacturing network"

Research Interests:

• Cooperative systems and sensor networks (multi-agent, multi-sensor systems)

• Nonlinear, adaptive, and switched dynamical systems; robust adaptive control; nonlinear and adaptive control designs for mechatronic systems

• Control applications (high performance flight and vehicle stability control, biomedical)

• Robotics and intelligent systems (multi-agent, motion planning, vision control, biomedical and assistive robotics)

Google Scholar

Research interests:

LinkedIn

Media:

[Waterloo Stories] August 31, 2020 "Pandemic isolation increases acceptance of robot companions"
   
[Waterloo Chronicle] August 31, 2020 "People are now willing to accept social robots as companions due to COVID-19 isolation: University of Waterloo study"
   
[Cheriton School of Computer Science News] August 29, 2019 "Moojan Ghafurian, Kerstin Dautenhahn and Jesse Hoey awarded funding to develop emotionally intelligent robots to help people with dementia"
   
[ACM Technews] May 21, 2019 "Making AI More Human"
   
[Semiconductor Engineering] May 28, 2019 "Crocheted robots; humanizing AI agents; training autonomous control systems"
   
[Cheriton School of Computer Science News] May 21, 2019 "Moojan Ghafurian, Neil Budnarain and Jesse Hoey make AI more human"
   
[Therapy Toronto News] October 22, 2018 "Study suggests faster countdowns may make people more patient"
   
[Education News Canada] May 22, 2019 "Making AI more human is key to widespread acceptance"

Research Interests

• Control system development for Driver Assistance Systems
• Fault-tolerant state estimation for biped robots
• Distributed Estimation
• Control Theory
• Multibody Dynamics

Google Scholar

Research Interests:

• Assistive technology (physical, cognitive disabilities, dementia)

• Health informatics

• Artificial intelligence

• Computational social science

• Affective computing, computer vision

Research Gate

Google Scholar

[VJDementia] "The complex issue of emotion" 

[Computer Science News] June 29, 2017 "ACT@Home: An emotionally intelligent cognitive assistant to help people with Alzheimer’s disease"

[Waterloo Stories] January 2, 2013 "Making life easier for those living with Alzheimer's"

Research Interests:

• Robotics
• Collaborative robots
• Human-robot interaction
• Human Motion Analysis
• Humanoid Robots
• Optimal control

Google Scholar

Research Interests:

• Mobility assistive devices
• Neuro-Musculo-Skeletal Modeling of Human Locomotion
• Autonomous Navigation Using Artificial Neural Networks
• Dynamic Seam Tracking for Robotic Welding, Arc Acoustics in GMA welding, Walking Robot Welder
• Automatic end-of-arm and tool-centre-point calibration

Google Scholar

Research Interests:

• Smart structures, actuators, biomechanics, assistive devices, human-robot interaction, wearable sensors (fitness, monitoring, fall prevention, Alzheimer's)
• Ophthalmic instrumentation, senors, technologies and hardware design (MRI, CT, ultrasound)
• Micro-energy harvester through human locomotion
• Magnetically driven medical microrobots for drug delivery and microsurgery
• Regenerative prosthetic knee, and cost-effective prosthetic leg (structural design, sensory system, and controller)
• Micromanipulation using magnetic levitation
• Auto-focusing mechanism for microscopy using electrorestrictive
• ​Clean room applications 

Google Scholar

[Waterloo Stories] August 28, 2018 "New sensor could help doctors monitor patient progress from a distance"

[Waterloo Stories] March 2, 2014 "Charge your phone while you shovel - and shiver"

Research Interests:

• Biomedical systems & biomechatronics - rehabilitation, assistive devices, intelligent design of prostheses and orthoses, 3D body surface measurement
• Optomechatronics - computer vision (2D and 3D), range-image registration, range-sensing, range-sensor design, vision-based 3D surface measurement systems, optical system design, laser-camera range, sensor design, phase-shifting / fringe-projection 3D surface measurement systems, real-time full-field 3D imaging sensors / real-time full-field 3D surface measurement systems, hand-held 3D imaging sensors / hand-held 3D surface measurement systems, vision-based robot control, vision-based human-robot interfaces
• Robotics - robot teleoperation, robot vision, human-robot interfaces, human-robot interaction, human-guided robot learning, vision-based robot control (visual servoing), human-assistive/service robots

Office of Research - Technology Transfer & Commercialization:

• Real-Time Full-Field 3D Shape Measurement

Research Interests:

Research Interests:

• High Resolution flexible pressure and tactile sensors

• Microbial fuel cells

• Nano electrodes for electrochemical detection

• Flexible Electrodes for bio-interfacing, electrical mapping self-powered devices

• Cell-inorganic composites
• Multi-functional materials and devices
• Wearable sensors
• Composite membranes

Research Interests:

• Biomechanics engineering (injury rehabilitation, assistive devices for elderly, athletes, disabled)

• Mechatronic and robotic systems

• Multibody system dynamics

• Computational methods for analysis and design

• Advanced vehicle systems

LinkedIn

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

Canada Research Chair in Biomechatronic System Dynamics [Canada Research Chair Profile]

NSERC/Toyota/Maplesoft Industrial Research Chair in Mathematics-Based Modelling and Design [NSERC Profile]

[Waterloo Stories] February 20, 2019 "Engineering innovation for wheelchair curlers"

[Waterloo Stories] August 5, 2016 "Rio Olympics 2016: Engineering speed for the Canadian track cycling team"

[Waterloo Stories] June 17, 2015 "Waterloo’s $10M dream facility for smarter, greener cars"

Office of Research - Technology Transfer & Commercialization:

• Vehicle Rollover Control using Pulsed Active Steering Control Strategy

Research Interests:

•  design and control of spinal exoskeletons for he prevention of back pain
•  development of assistive robotic devices to increase mobility of older person
•  design studies of lower limb exoskeletons

Research Interests:

• Simulation & Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality
• Novice And Older Driver Training
• Predictive & Conceptual Modeling Of Behavior
• Eye Tracking
• Attention & Cognition
• Perception
• Decision Making
• Aging
• Automotive Human Factors
• Autonomous Vehicles And Connected Vehicles & Intelligent Transportation Systems
• Caregiver Behaviors & Errors
• Assistive & Automotive Interfaces
• Vulnerable Road User Safety (Pedestrians & Bicyclists)
• Motorcyclist Safety
• Special Populations (ADHD & Dementia)
• Traffic Control Devices & Roadway Infrastructure Design

Research Interests

• Virtual Reality
• Wearables Devices
• Computer Human Interaction, haptics, design
• Data Science
• Mental Health
• Nutritional Science

Google Scholar

LinkedIn

Research Gate

[YouTube] October 11, 2018 "DualPanto: A Haptic Device that Enables Blind Users to Continuously Interact with Virtual Worlds"

Research interests:

Research Interests:

Research Interests:

• Rehabilitation engineering and assistive technologies (gerontology, Osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, fall risk in stroke survivors, and rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury)

• Neuromotor control

• Biomedical signal analysis

LinkedIn

ResearchGate

​Google Scholar

[Waterloo Stories] July 8, 2014 "GPS technology may help detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier"

Research Interests:

• Data mining and bioinformatics

• Machine intelligence, computer vision, intelligence robotics

• Pattern recognition and discovery methods of genomic and proteomic data

• DNA sequencing, colon cancer and leukemia gene and data analysis

[YouTube Lecture] September 19, 2013 "Pattern discovery and analysis of genomic and proteomic data"

Office of Research - Technology Transfer & Commercialization:

• Biosequence Gap Pattern Discovery and Knowledge extraction and confirmation system
• Pattern Alignment Clustering to Reveal Functionality in Biosequences - WeMine™
• Multivariate Times Series Pattern Discovery in a Complex Continuous Industrial Process

Research interests:

Research Interests:

• MEMS/NEMS

• Nanodevices and carbon nanotube-based sensors for biomedical applications (early disease detection)

• Microassembly and micromirror devices for genetic microarray reading and tissue imaging

• Lab-on-a-chip designs

Canada Research Chair in Micro and NanoDevices [Canada Research Chair Profile]