This Special Section aims to explore the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), intelligent systems, and assistive robotics in revolutionizing healthcare. It will focus on the design, development, and application of advanced technologies such as wearable devices, sensor networks, assistive robotics, haptics, and smart rehabilitation tools to enhance patient-centered care, disorder diagnosis, and movement understanding. The special section seeks to provide a platform for cutting-edge research and innovation addressing real-time data collection, analysis, and integration of these technologies into existing healthcare systems.
Key areas of focus will include but are not limited to:
• AI-driven tools for early disease detection, lifestyle monitoring, and personalized care strategies.
• Innovative advancements in wearable devices and assistive robotics for health monitoring, movement disorders, aging well, and rehabilitation.
• The integration of haptic feedback systems and assistive robotics in therapeutic interventions to support patient recovery and promote the regaining of physical abilities.
• Exploration of assistive robotics in rehabilitation programs for improving quality of life and aiding aging populations.
• Discussion of challenges such as data reliability, privacy concerns, economic constraints, and societal barriers to the widespread adoption of these technologies.
• Exploration of intelligent systems for lifestyle habit tracking to promote disease prevention, holistic wellbeing, and improved quality of life.
• Ethical considerations in deploying AI-driven and assistive robotic healthcare technologies.
By bringing together researchers, industry experts, and healthcare practitioners, this Special Collection aims to showcase advancements, share practical solutions, and foster interdisciplinary collaborations to pave the way for innovative healthcare solutions enabled by AI, intelligent systems, and assistive robotics, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes and quality of life.
Keynote Speaker: Prof. Giuseppe Carbone, PhD, Giuseppe.carbone@unical.it https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Giuseppe-Carbone-3
Keynote Title: Challenges and Solution Examples for Rehabilitation Robots
Abstract: The aging population and the progressive decline of NHS resources in Europe are creating new challenges in healthcare that could be effectively addressed through robotic solutions in the near future. This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of open issues and innovative approaches, with particular focus on robotic-assisted post-stroke rehabilitation. The discussion considers a wide range of rehabilitation robotic systems, including but not limited to exoskeletons and wearable devices, alongside other robotic architectures and assistive solutions. The presentation focuses on fundamental design principles, architectural concepts, and control strategies that underpin state-of-the-art rehabilitation robotics also by referring to examples and case studies. Key requirements for next-generation rehabilitation systems are analyzed, such as adaptability to patient-specific needs, modularity, safety, comfort, and clinical usability. These aspects are discussed in relation to existing technological and clinical challenges, with the aim of contributing to the future development of effective and sustainable robotic solutions for neurorehabilitation.
Short Bio: Giuseppe Carbone received his PhD degree in Robotics from the University of Cassino, Italy, in 2004. He has been Visiting Professor at Universidad Carlos III of Madrid, Beihang University, Waseda University, East China Jiaotong University, and several other well-reputed international research institutions. Since 2020, he has been Chair of the IFToMM Technical Committee on Robotics and Mechatronics. Since 2018, he has been with the University of Calabria, Italy. From 2018 to 2021, he was Visiting Professor at Sheffield Hallam University, UK, where he previously served as Senior Lecturer and member of the Executive Board of Sheffield Robotics from 2015 to 2017. He has been Scientific Director of the International Research Laboratory on Intelligent Robotic Systems and Technologies. He is Editor-in-Chief of Robotica (Cambridge University Press), Section Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Bionic Engineering, Editor of MDPI Robotics and MDPI Machines, and Technical Editor of the IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics. He has been Principal Investigator or Co-PI of more than 20 research projects, including projects funded under the 7th European Framework Programme and H2020. He has received more than 20 Best Paper Awards and over 10 International Best Patent Awards. His research interests include Engineering Design, Robot Mechanics, Mechanics of Manipulation and Grasping, and Machinery Mechanics. His scientific output includes over 500 research papers, 20 patents, and 16 completed PhD supervisions (with 5 ongoing). He has also served as a member of 20 PhD evaluation committees in Italy, Spain, Finland, the UK, Romania, Mexico, India, and other countries. He has delivered keynote speeches and invited lectures at more than 30 international events. He has edited or co-edited four books published by Springer and Elsevier. His h-index is 40, with more than 6,000 citations (Google Scholar). In January 2023, he received an Honoris Causa Doctoral Degree from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania), and in June 2023, an Honoris Causa Doctoral Degree from the University of Craiova (Romania).
Organiser: Dr. Daniele Cafolla, Swansea University. daniele.cafolla@swansea.ac.uk
Submission format:
This Special Session welcomes both full length papers (12 pages plus up to 2 pages of references) and abstracts (up to 5 pages including references). Click here for detailed submission guidelines and templates.
Journal Special Issue:
Selected high quality papers/abstracts from this special session will be invited to submit extended versions to a special issue in one of the leading journals in the field (more details to follow).
Deadline:
All deadlines, including submission deadline and review timeline are the same as the main conference. Please follow this link to see all the Important Dates.
If you have any questions regarding this Special Session, please contact the organiser.