Katerina Bakopoulou

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Katerina Bakopoulou is a leading researcher in human-robot collaboration (HRC), with a focus on automating complex, ergonomically challenging manufacturing processes. Her work addresses critical gaps in industrial automation, particularly for tasks involving high-payload manipulation and flexible materials like textiles and composites—areas traditionally resistant to robotics due to limitations in robot cognition and payload capacity. Bakopoulou’s major contributions include developing model-based control systems for co-manipulation of deformable materials, enabling robots to adapt in real-time to material behavior, and designing collaborative cells for non-destructive testing (NDT) of large parts. Her most cited paper, “Towards seamless collaboration of humans and high-payload robots: An automotive case study” (2023, 40 citations), demonstrates how hybrid automation can improve ergonomics and performance in large-product assembly. With additional impactful works on fabric handling (17 citations) and NDT automation (3 citations), Bakopoulou is shaping the future of smart manufacturing, bridging the gap between human skill and robotic precision. Her research is essential reading for engineers and students interested in industrial robotics, human-robot interaction, and adaptive automation.