Leila Fotoohi

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Leila Fotoohi’s research lies at the vital intersection of assistive robotics and human safety, with a primary focus on developing robotic systems that empower individuals with disabilities. Her most significant contribution is the design and evolution of the **FRIEND** (Functional Robot with Dexterous Arm and User-Friendly Interface for Disabled People) system. Her seminal 2013 paper, "A Supportive FRIEND at Work," which has garnered **68 citations**, details the groundbreaking transition of FRIEND from a tool for daily living assistance into a robotic workplace aide, directly enabling disabled individuals to perform complex vocational tasks. This work is foundational in the field of inclusive robotics. Beyond assistance, Fotoohi is deeply concerned with operational safety. Her 2011 paper on "Building a safe care-providing robot" (3 citations) and her 2010 work on "A supervisory control approach for safe behavior" (2 citations) pioneer novel safety architectures for robots that operate in direct proximity to humans. By applying supervisory control theory, she has developed discrete event controllers that ensure safe, predictable behavior in service robots like FRIEND, addressing a critical gap where traditional industrial safety methods fail. Her work is essential reading for anyone interested in creating robots that are not only capable but also trustworthy and safe for human interaction.