Papers
14
Total Citations
342
H-Index
7
About
Ana Lopes is a leading researcher in assistive robotics, specializing in brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and human-machine shared control for intelligent wheelchairs. Her work focuses on developing reliable, user-centered navigation systems that empower individuals with severe motor disabilities to regain mobility and independence. Lopes’ major contributions include pioneering a self-paced BCI with a collaborative controller, which dramatically enhances wheelchair driving reliability—a breakthrough validated through extensive trials with physically disabled users (80 citations). She also introduced a novel hybrid motion planner for robust indoor navigation in constrained environments (49 citations) and advanced P300-based BCI paradigms that allow users to steer wheelchairs via brain signals alone (34 citations). Her research on detecting stressful situations using galvanic skin response during BCI-controlled driving (6 citations) further demonstrates her commitment to user safety and comfort. With over 300 total citations across her most-cited works, Lopes has established herself as a key figure in assistive mobile robotics, notably through her work with the RobChair platform at the University of Coimbra’s Institute of Systems and Robotics. Her achievements include developing modular software architectures for human-robot interaction and outdoor guidepath navigation systems, consistently pushing the boundaries of what is possible for people with motor impairments.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Assisted navigation for a brain-actuated intelligent wheelchair99 citations · 2012
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- 3A New Hybrid Motion Planner: Applied in a Brain-Actuated Robotic Wheelchair49 citations · 2016
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