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About

Sanders Aspelund is a leading researcher in assistive robotics and human-machine interaction, with a focus on developing non-invasive body-machine interfaces (BoMI) for children with severe motor impairments. His work addresses a critical gap: while brain-machine interfaces pose surgical risks for pediatric populations, Aspelund’s innovative BoMI systems leverage residual upper body movements and head-joystick controls to enable safe, intuitive control of robotic arms. His most-cited paper (2019, 19 citations) revealed age-dependent differences in how children learn to operate these interfaces, providing foundational insights for pediatric rehabilitation. In a landmark case study (2020, 13 citations), he demonstrated a wireless head-joystick system that allowed a child with congenital limb absence to perform functional tasks—a breakthrough in non-invasive assistive technology. Aspelund’s five-degree-of-freedom BoMI (2017, 13 citations) further expanded control capabilities for children with severe impairments, offering a robust alternative to invasive methods. With over 45 cumulative citations, his research directly impacts the design of adaptive, child-friendly assistive devices, bridging the gap between complex engineering and real-world pediatric needs. Aspelund’s work is essential reading for anyone interested in accessible robotics, pediatric rehabilitation, and human-centered interface design.