Koren Ward

About

Koren Ward is a researcher whose work spans two compelling areas of robotics: electro-tactile feedback systems for teleoperation and prosthetics, and autonomous mobile robot learning. His most influential contributions center on developing tactile sensing and feedback technologies that allow users to perceive touch sensations when controlling robotic systems remotely or through prosthetic hands — work that addresses a fundamental challenge in making robotic interaction more natural and intuitive. Ward's research on teleoperation, including his widely cited 2013 paper on electro-tactile feedback for robot arm control (38 citations) and its 2015 immersive follow-up (31 citations), demonstrated how operators can experience realistic tactile sensations from remote environments, enabling more dexterous manipulation in hazardous or inaccessible settings. He extended this technology meaningfully into prosthetics, exploring how amputees might regain a sense of touch through multi-channel electro-tactile systems. Earlier in his career, Ward made noteworthy contributions to mobile robot behavior learning, developing a method called Trajectory Velocity Learning that enabled robots to rapidly and simultaneously acquire complex navigation behaviors. Across more than two decades of research, Ward's cumulative citation record reflects a consistent commitment to bridging the gap between human perception and robotic capability.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Tele-operation of a robot arm with electro tactile feedback

   38 citations · 2013
2. 2
   Immersive teleoperation of a robot arm using electro-tactile feedback

   31 citations · 2015
3. 3
   Tactile sensing system using electro-tactile feedback

   16 citations · 2015
4. 4
   Multi-channel Electro-tactile Feedback System for a Prosthetic Hand

   9 citations · 2018
5. 5
   Electro-tactile feedback system for achieving embodiment in a tele-operated robot

   9 citations · 2014
6. 6
   Electro-tactile Feedback System for a Prosthetic Hand

   8 citations · 2015
7. 7
   Rapid Simultaneous Learning of Multiple Behaviours with a Mobile Robot

   7 citations · 2001
8. 8
   Acquiring Mobile Robot Behaviors by Learning Trajectory Velocities

   7 citations · 2000
9. 9
   Acquiring mobile robot behaviors by learning trajectory velocities with multiple FAM matrices

   5 citations · 2002
10. 10
    Learning Mobile Robot Behaviours by Discovering Associations Between Input Vectors and Trajectory Velocities

    5 citations · 1999

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links