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Discover the ground-breaking Human Robotics research performed by the BruBotics consortium.

BruBotics gathers several research groups from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel to collaborate on the topic of Human Robotics. Engineering, social studies, human physiology, artificial intelligence, ageing studies,...each of our 8 research groups have a unique point of view on Human Robotics. Discover who they are, what they do and some of their most exciting projects in these tabs and below.

We believe cooperation and knowledge sharing through partnerships with both industry and the academic world will boost progress in the field of Human Robotics. Therefore we always welcome new partnerships and research opportunities. With our 8 research groups from different disciplines and a strong portfolio of succesful European and national research projects, BruBotics can indeed form an inspiring partner.

A unique combination of expertise

Robots & Multibody Mechanics (R&MM)

Our Robotics Engineers. Social & Physical Human-Robot Interaction and safe & energy efficient compliant actuation, with applications in health and manufacturing.

Working on topics such as exoskeletons, rehabilitation robotics, collaborative robots, compliant actuation, soft robotics, self-healing robotics, bionic prostheses and more.

R&MM is a core lab of Flanders Make.

Electronics & Informatics (ETRO)

Our AR, VR and signal processing experts. ETRO crosses boundaries with visionary electronics & ICT in e-Health and other domains.

Work on using A.R. in healthcare and industrial applications, V.R. in rehabilitation, serious gaming and other topics.

ETRO is also part of imec.

Belgian Ageing Studies (BAS)

How can robots increase quality of life of older people? is the central question for BAS in BruBotics.

BAS studies the environment and wellbeing of older people, and the care environments. They are the link between technology and the end-user.

Artificial Intelligence lab (AI Lab)

Robots need A.I.. Our AI Lab focusses on nature inspired Machine Learning for complex problem solving. 

Main topics include multi-agent systems, reinforcement learning, natural language and the evolution of language and more. 

Human Physiology (MFYS)

Exercise and the brain in health and disease: the added-value of Human Robotics.

The movement scientists and physiologists try to understand the impact of for instance our wearable robots on the human body.

MARKETING (MARK)

What is the future of retail? How can technologies such as AR, VR and robotics play a role in marketing and retail?

Studies on Media, Information and Telecommunication (SMIT)

The human side of BruBotics. Sociologists aiming at understanding how humans and robots can collaborate and interact, how technology is accepted by humans and how businesses can adapt.

SMIT is also part of imec.

Neurological Rehabilitation (RERE)

RERE investigates the effectiveness of robotic assistance for neurological rehabilitation and the impact on rehabilitation psychology.

Leading to unique results

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RevalExo: lower-limb rehabilitation exoskeleton with multimodal sensors

A wearable lower-limb exoskeleton that assists activities of daily living and enables data-driven remote rehabilitation.

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AidWear: AI-driven wearable robots

The AidWear project aims to develop the artificial intelligence frameworks that are necessary to enable Robotic Assistive Devices (active prosthetics and lower-limb exoskeletons) that give Parkinson’s patients and individuals with an amputation a better quality of life. Building on the results of the AI4exo project and taking advantage of existing hardware, AidWear will advance three areas of interest: intention detection, mid-level optimization, and dynamic simulation.

The project will generate international exposure for Belgian AI and robotics through participation in the 2024 CYBATHLON competition. Furthermore, there are concrete paths to provide a return to society, such as technology transfer to existing Belgian start-ups, reduced healthcare costs for two large patient groups, and dissemination activities to showcase the potential of AI and robotics in healthcare.

This project is made possible by the Federal Public Service for Policy and Support.

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SAFER: Rehabilitation Robot

A robot that can feel what a therapist feels when treating a patient, that can adjust the intensity of rehabilitation exercises at any time according to the patient's abilities and needs, and that can thus go on for hours without getting tired: it seems like fiction, and yet researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and imec have now finished a prototype that unites all these skills in one robot.

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Safe multi-drone systems by distributed control

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SARA: Surgical Augmented Reality Assistance

The SARA project investigated the use of augmented reality to overlay a 3D rendering of medical images and planning information onto the patient’s anatomy during neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery to enhance the Computer Assisted Surgery (CAS) experience.

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SOPHIA: deploying robots for improved ergonomy

EU H2020 SOPHIA: Three BruBotics research groups joining forces to improve our work

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SHERO: Self-Healing Soft Robotics

Horizon 2020 FET Open: Developing fully-autonomous self-healing soft robotic devices

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Exskallerate: Boosting SME adoption of exoskeletons

INTERREG EXSKALLERATE: Boosting SME adoption of exoskeletons in construction and manufacturing industries

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Spexor back support exoskeleton

The EU H2020 Spexor project: Preventing low-back pain with a novel and effective spinal exoskeleton

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SPEAR: Series-Parallel Actuators for Robotics

The ERC Starting Grant of prof. Bram Vanderborght

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Operator Info

Flanders Make project Operator Info: turn operators in knowledge workers

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Dream: the next generation robot-enhanced therapy

The EU FP7 Dream project aims to deliver the next generation of Robot-Enhanced Therapy (RET) for children with autism.

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ClaXon: cobots in the industry

iMinds ICON Project ClaXon: Towards a Smoother Human-Robot Collaboration in the Manufacturing Industry

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WONDER: robots for care

iMinds ICON project WONDER: Interactive, Automated Support for Personalized Care Services using humanoid robots

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Self-Healing Actuators

Self-Healing Actuators Make Breaking Your Robot No Big Deal

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AltaCro: Rehabilitation exoskeleton

ALTACRO rehabiliation exoskeleton: Automated Locomotion Training using an Actuated Compliant Robotic Orthosis

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H2R: Human-like locomotion

The EU FP7 project H2R aims to demonstrate human-like gait and posture in a controlled compliant biped robot

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SCANERGY: Smart Grid

EU FP7 project SCANERGY: A Smart Grid using A.I.

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Cyberlegs: lower-limb prosthesis

EU FP7 project Cyberlegs: Cybernetic Lower-Limb cognitive Ortho-Prosthesis. Image: (c) Massimo Brega

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MIRAD: a lower limb assistive exoskeleton

IWT SBO MIRAD: an integrated Methodology to bring Intelligent Robotic Assistive Devices to the user, with a lower-limb exoskeleton as demonstrator.

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