Mhairi K. MacLean

University of Florida, University of Twente

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Mhairi K. MacLean is a leading researcher in biomechatronics and human-robot interaction, with a focus on lower limb exoskeletons and skeletal muscle biomechanics. Her work bridges the gap between robotic design and human physiology, aiming to enhance mobility assistance and rehabilitation. In her highly cited 2019 study, "Energetics of Walking With a Robotic Knee Exoskeleton" (88 citations), MacLean demonstrated that powered exoskeletons can reduce the metabolic cost of locomotion across varied conditions—including loaded and unloaded walking on inclines and natural terrain—using a small cohort of healthy subjects. This work provided foundational evidence for exoskeleton efficacy in real-world settings. More recently, her 2023 narrative review, "Tapping Into Skeletal Muscle Biomechanics for Design and Control of Lower Limb Exoskeletons" (10 citations), critiques the field’s overemphasis on mechatronics, advocating for integrating muscle biomechanics and load response into exoskeleton control systems. MacLean’s contributions advance the development of more adaptive, human-centered wearable robots, with implications for assistive technology and rehabilitation. Her research continues to shape how engineers and clinicians design exoskeletons that work synergistically with the body’s natural mechanics.