Chris Nataros

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About

Chris Nataros is a robotics researcher whose work focuses on assistive exoskeletons designed to reduce workplace injuries in high-risk environments. His primary research areas include human-robot interaction, wearable robotics, and industrial ergonomics, with a particular emphasis on mitigating repetitive stress injuries in nuclear and hazardous material handling. Nataros’s most notable contribution is his 2019 study, "Hotcell Worker Assistive Robotic Exoskeleton Design and Control," which was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This work directly addressed a critical occupational hazard: the incidence rate of repetitive stress injuries among hotcell workers rose from 22% after 1–2 hours of work to 50% after 3 hours per day due to fatigue, repetitive motion, and hyperextension. By designing and controlling a robotic exoskeleton tailored to these tasks, Nataros demonstrated a viable solution to reduce injury rates and improve worker safety. Though his citation count is modest—6 citations for this paper—the real-world impact of his research is significant, influencing safety protocols and exoskeleton design in DOE facilities. His work stands as a practical, application-driven contribution to industrial robotics and occupational health.