Irene Chen

Apple (United States), University of British Columbia

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Irene Chen’s research lies at the intersection of robotics, human-robot interaction, and assistive technology. Her work on **Fastcat**, an open-source library for composable EtherCAT control systems, addresses a critical bottleneck in robotics: the immense engineering effort required to configure and manage safety-critical hardware for complex testbeds. By making robust, flexible control software accessible, Chen’s contribution (9 citations) empowers researchers to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure. More recently, Chen has turned her attention to socially assistive robotics, particularly for dementia care. Her scoping review on the facilitators and barriers to codesigning social robots with older adults with dementia (2024, 3 citations) underscores her commitment to inclusive, user-centered design. This work highlights the importance of directly involving end-users—including those with cognitive impairments—in shaping technology that affects their lives. Chen’s dual focus on technical infrastructure and ethical, participatory design marks her as a researcher who bridges engineering rigor with social impact, making her work relevant to both roboticists and healthcare technologists.