Rehabilitation Robots and Assistive Devices: A Special Issue in Honor of Prof. Dr. Rory A. Cooper

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Actuators is dedicated to Dr. Rory Cooper for his outstanding innovations in wheeled assistive mobility and robotics, and his contributions in the field of assistive technology. His inventions have greatly benefitted the health, mobility and social inclusion of people with disabilities and older adults.

Dr. Cooper earned his bachelor and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in 1985 and 1986, respectively. He later earned a Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering, with a focus on bioengineering, from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1989. In 1994, he founded the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL), where he continues to enhance the mobility and function of people with disabilities through advanced engineering in clinical research and medical rehabilitation.

He is a FISA and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Distinguished Professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Professor of Bioengineering, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. He also serves as Assistant Vice Chancellor for the Research for STEM and Health Sciences Collaboration for the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Cooper has authored or co-authored over 400 peer-reviewed journal publications and has been awarded over 20 patents. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and IEEE, and can name the Samuel E. Heyman Service to America Medal among his many honors. He is a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Dr. Cooper’s research interests and scientific/technical expertise have evolved in recent years, and now include participatory action design and engineering, seating and mobility, accessible transportation, autonomous and electric vehicle accessibility accommodations, adaptive sports, and patient transfer robots, among others.

This Special Issue will have a broad focus on rehabilitation robots and other assistive devices that move or are actuated, and their ability to improve the functional daily activities of people with disabilities and older adults. The Actuators journal welcomes the submission of original research and review articles in these areas.

Dr. Jonathan Duvall
Dr. Jorge L. Candiotti
Dr. Brad Duerstock
Dr. Jongbae Kim
Guest Editors

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