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Reimagining Rehabilitation: Assistive Robotics, AI, and the Future of Movement

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomedical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 77

Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Human Engineering Research Laboratories, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA
Interests: robotic wheelchairs; human-centered design; transportation and physical AI
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Human Engineering Research Laboratories, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA
Interests: robotic wheelchairs; human-centered design; educational gamification; instrumentation; human–robot interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Human Engineering Research Laboratories, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA
Interests: robotics; assistive technology; disability studies; adaptive sports; transportation; alternative power sources; activities of daily living
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of physical rehabilitation is currently witnessing a paradigm shift, driven by the rapid convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Assistive Robotics. This Special Issue aims to explore the transformative potential of these technologies in restoring and enhancing human mobility. As global healthcare systems face mounting pressure from aging populations and the rising prevalence of neurological disorders, there is an urgent need for interdisciplinary research that transitions rehabilitation from traditional, labor-intensive practices to data-driven, autonomous, and personalized interventions.

We invite high-quality contributions that address the design, control, and clinical integration of intelligent systems. The scope of this issue encompasses a broad spectrum of innovations, including adaptive exoskeletons, smart prosthetics, and neural-interfaced devices. We particularly encourage submissions focusing on the application of Machine Learning (ML) for real-time biomechanical analysis, the optimization of Human–Robot Interaction (HRI) to improve user compliance, and the development of sensor-fusion frameworks for remote rehabilitation monitoring. By bridging the gap between sophisticated robotic engineering and clinical efficacy, this collection seeks to redefine the boundaries of movement recovery. We welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews that offer significant methodological advancements or evidence-based clinical insights.

Dr. Sivashankar Sivakanthan
Dr. Jorge L. Candiotti
Dr. Jonathan Duvall
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • assistive robotics
  • artificial intelligence
  • neurorehabilitation
  • human–robot interaction (HRI)
  • wearable exoskeletons
  • machine learning
  • bio-feedback systems
  • motor recovery
  • sensor fusion
  • smart prosthetics

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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