Papers
2
Total Citations
24
H-Index
2
About
Nicola Farella is a researcher at the intersection of assistive robotics, virtual reality, and rehabilitation technologies. Her work focuses on developing interactive systems that leverage social robots and immersive environments to support individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and physical disabilities. A key contribution is her 2019 study on designing and validating embodied mirroring setups with the NAO humanoid robot for autistic children, which demonstrated how simplified, toy-like robots can enhance engagement and social interaction during therapy—a work that has garnered 15 citations and laid groundwork for robot-assisted interventions. More recently, Farella explored upper-limb rehabilitation for individuals with cervical spinal cord injury, introducing a virtual reality environment paired with a haptic feedback thimble. This 2021 paper (9 citations) addresses the critical need for accessible, motivating tools to restore autonomy in daily activities. Her research is notable for its human-centered design, bridging engineering and clinical practice to create tangible improvements in quality of life. Farella’s work continues to influence the fields of socially assistive robotics and VR-based neurorehabilitation, offering scalable solutions for vulnerable populations.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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