Lorenzo Masia, PhD
Professor Dr (W3)
Chair in "Intelligent BioRobotics Systems"
Deputy Director of Munich Institute for Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI)
School of Computation Information and Technology
Department of Computer Engineering
Technische Universität München
Germany

Keynote Title: Enhancing Human Performance with Wearable Robotics and Machine Learning

Abstract: In the dynamic field of assistive technology, soft wearable exosuits represent a significant breakthrough, setting them apart from traditional rigid exoskeletons. However, the complexity of mastering soft structures is significant: it involves not just handling the non-linear dynamics of the device but also accurately interpreting the physiological signals that are crucial to the exploit a human control loop control. My talk will cover the latest advancements from my team over the past five years, detailing our development of compact, robust, reliable, and efficient exosuits. I will discuss the critical role of integrating biomechanical modelling into control strategies to customize how the machine interacts with the user’s biomechanics, aiming to enhance human performance in tasks like collaborating with industrial manipuilators or improving running endurance. I will also introduce a new method called 'Context Aware Control,' which combines traditional control techniques with machine learning, including artificial vision, to fine-tune the assistance provided. This approach endows our exosuits with the unique ability to adapt to varying external conditions or environmental changes, significantly improving the user's integration with these wearable robotic systems.

Biography: Lorenzo Masia began his career in mechanical engineering with a degree from Sapienza University of Rome in 2003, followed by a PhD from the University of Padua in 2007. His initial steps into robotics were marked by two-year as researcher at MIT's Newman Lab for Biomechanics and Human Rehabilitation, spanning from January 2005 to December 2006.

He took on the role of Team Leader at the Italian Institute of Technology, specifically in the Robotics Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department. By 2013, Masia he was an Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University of Singapore in the School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, where he remained until 2018 and later progressed at the University of Twente, where he held the position of Associate Professor in Biodesign. Professor Masia has been at Heidelberg University in Germany (2019-2024), serving as a Full Professor in Biorobotics & Medical Technology, where he founded the ARIES Lab, focusing on Assistive Robotics and Interactive ExoSuits at the Institute of Computer Engineering (ZITI).

From the 1st of October 2024, he is Professor in “Intelligent BioRobotic Systems” and Deputy Director of the Munich Institute for Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

Professor Masia's work has garnered international acclaim, evidenced by multiple awards at leading conferences in Biorobotics and Robotic Rehabilitation, including two IEEE Best Paper Awards and three IEEE Best Student Paper Awards, among others. In addition to his research and teaching, Professor Masia holds significant editorial roles with several prestigious journals, IEEE TRO, IEEE RAL, IEEE TNSRE, JNER and Wearable Technologies. He has also played key roles as Program Chair in organizing major IEEE RAS conferences in the field, and he has been the General Chair for IEEE RAS EMBS BIOROB 2024 (1-4 September 2024, Heidelberg, Germany).