Alexandra Schmid

Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Age Research

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Alexandra Schmid is a leading researcher in socially assistive robotics, with a focused mission to enhance the quality of life for older adults. Her work centers on developing intuitive, affordable robotic systems that enable seniors to maintain their independence at home. Schmid’s most influential contribution is her role in the HOBBIT project, where she designed a robotic solution balancing user needs, technical performance, and economic feasibility. Her landmark paper, “Towards a Robot for Supporting Older People to Stay Longer Independent at Home” (22 citations), details the robot’s fall-detection capabilities and user-centered design. She further advanced the field by creating a novel method to assess older users’ emotional and conceptual responses to robotic assistants, as shown in her 2012 work (15 citations). Through rigorous prototype trials in home-like environments (14 citations), Schmid demonstrated how to translate user requirements into functional, accepted technology. Her research has directly influenced the development of empathetic, practical robots that reduce loneliness and improve safety, making her a pivotal figure in human-robot interaction for aging populations.