Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Claudia J. W. Haarman is a leading researcher in rehabilitation robotics, specializing in the development of novel assistive technologies for individuals with severe motor impairments following stroke or spinal cord injury. Her work focuses on creating soft, lightweight robotic devices to restore hand and upper limb function, directly addressing the critical problem of learned non-use in chronic patients. Her most impactful contribution is the "SoftHand X" (SHX), a soft robotic supernumerary hand designed to re-enable hand use for severely affected stroke patients, which has garnered 40 citations. She has also pioneered the T-GRIP thumb exoskeleton, a 50-gram device supporting lateral pinch grasp for spinal cord injury patients, and developed portable robots for unsupervised hand therapy. Beyond device design, Haarman advances motor impairment quantification through system identification techniques, offering more reliable and valid assessments than traditional clinical scales. Her work on a single device to quantify elbow impairments (2022) and system identification for upper limb motor impairments (2023) demonstrates her commitment to rigorous, data-driven rehabilitation. With a clear focus on translating engineering innovation into practical, high-impact clinical tools, Haarman is shaping the future of accessible, effective neurorehabilitation.