How the Neuroprosthetics and Human-Centered Robotics Lab at TUM is innovating in bionic prostheses, wearable robotics, and advanced rehabilitation techniques—incorporating soft robotics technologies, virtual reality, and intuitive control algorithms to enhance user experience and functionality.

In this episode, Ibrahim Khaled Reguieg delves into the transformative impact of remote control and VR-based training on humanoid robotics. With a special focus on robotic-assisted surgery, he explores how these technologies enhance precision, reduce human error, and accelerate skill acquisition for professionals working with humanoid robots. Ibrahim shares insights into the latest advancements in VR interfaces, the key challenges to adoption—such as latency and haptic feedback—and solutions from his own projects. He also discusses the future of remote-controlled humanoid robotics and the emerging technologies that will drive further innovation. Tune in to discover how immersive technologies are reshaping the way we train, control, and interact with advanced robotics.

In this episode, Francesco Ferro, CEO of PAL Robotics and a leader in service robotics, shares his insights on the future of robotics across multiple industries. He discusses the company's innovations, including TALOS, a humanoid robot developed for advanced research, and TIAGo Pro, a new-generation mobile manipulator designed for flexible applications. Francesco also addresses the challenges in deploying these robots in real-world settings, ensuring they are adaptable and safe for environments like hospitals and retail. He concludes with a look at how PAL Robotics aims to integrate these technologies into everyday life, highlighting the social benefits and potential for industry-wide transformation.

In this episode, Lucrezia Grassi shares her research into human-robot interaction, focusing on social robots that engage with people in diverse environments such as schools, hospitals, and care homes. Supported by the RAISE project, she works on cloud systems that enable robots to handle multiparty interactions, aiming to reduce loneliness, enhance education, and improve communication for children with autism. Lucrezia also discusses the evolving role of humanoid robots as social assistants and how her work will help address societal challenges through more advanced, diversity-aware conversational systems.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Julia Badger, a driving force behind NASA’s robotics and autonomous systems initiatives. Drawing on her deep background in mechanical engineering, control, and formal methods, Dr. Badger unveils how NASA’s cutting-edge projects push the limits of technology to support ever-more complex and distant missions. From designing robots that perform intricate tasks in extreme conditions to coordinating large-scale R&D efforts, learn how NASA ensures reliability, scalability, and safety across an expanding frontier in space. Tune in to discover the engineering innovations—and the human ingenuity—leading us toward a bold new era of exploration.

In this episode, Dan Fitzpatrick introduces the Focus Buddy, a groundbreaking robot developed to aid in ADHD therapy. By leveraging conversational AI and affective computing, the Focus Buddy offers a fresh therapeutic approach to help patients better manage their daily lives. Dan shares insights on the inspiration behind this project, the focus on ADHD, and the rationale for creating a new embedded app in a crowded market. This conversation highlights how innovative AI solutions are paving the way for advancements in therapeutic care.

In this episode, Prof. Antonio Sgorbissa discusses the cutting-edge research being conducted at the RICE lab (Robots and Intelligent systems for Citizens and the Environment) at the University of Genova. He delves into the lab's mission to develop robotic and intelligent solutions that positively impact society, particularly in the fields of humanoid robotics and cognitive systems. Prof. Sgorbissa shares insights into how their work on context-awareness and AI is making robots more adaptable and effective in real-world applications, from smart environments to disaster relief. He also provides a glimpse into the future of humanoid robotics and their role in critical industries like healthcare.

In this episode, Guido Schimmang from Siemens discusses the groundbreaking collaboration with ANYbotics and Roboverse Reply to develop ANYmal, an autonomous robot dog designed for industrial maintenance. He explains how this partnership harnessed the power of AI and advanced sensor technologies to create a solution that improves safety, efficiency, and sustainability in process industries. Guido also highlights the crucial role of the Roboverse Reply platform in integrating robots into the workflow of Siemens' COMOS Mobile Worker, ensuring seamless data processing and actionable insights for facility operators. Finally, he provides insights into the future of autonomous mobile robots, including their potential to drive predictive maintenance and further reduce environmental impact. If you want to learn more, check out Guido's talk from ACHEMA

Federico Minutoli discusses the transformative role of open vocabulary scene graphs in advancing robotic perception. He highlights how these techniques and algorithms improve robots' contextual understanding, making interactions more intuitive and effective, and shares insights on overcoming integration challenges and future developments in the field.

In this episode, Walter Greenleaf delves into the transformative potential of affective computing in humanoid robotics, particularly within healthcare. He discusses successful implementations that enhance patient care, the intriguing intersection of neuroscience, VR/AR, and robotics, and the future challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field. Greenleaf's insights provide a glimpse into how emotional intelligence and advanced technologies are shaping the next generation of human-machine interactions in medical environments.