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About

Ard Westerveld is a researcher in rehabilitation robotics, with a focus on developing assistive technologies for stroke survivors to restore upper-limb function. His key research areas include robotic exoskeletons, functional electrical stimulation (FES), and human-robot interaction for neurorehabilitation. Westerveld’s major contributions center on designing novel, patient-centered devices that combine passive support with active assistance. His most-cited work, "A Damper Driven Robotic End-Point Manipulator for Functional Rehabilitation Exercises After Stroke" (35 citations), introduced a low-power, safe robotic system for reach training, emphasizing weight compensation over brute force. He further advanced the field with the "Design of a self-aligning 3-DOF actuated exoskeleton for diagnosis and training of wrist and forearm after stroke" (27 citations), which provided objective quantification of patient progress. A notable achievement is his integrated approach in "Passive reach and grasp with functional electrical stimulation and robotic arm support" (13 citations), merging FES with robotic arm support to enable coordinated reach-and-grasp movements. With over 75 total citations, Westerveld’s work has shaped the development of accessible, effective rehabilitation tools, bridging the gap between passive and active robotic assistance to improve functional independence in stroke survivors.