Trine Straarup Winther

About

Trine Straarup Winther is a researcher whose work sits at the intersection of healthcare robotics, human-robot interaction, and occupational ergonomics. Her research explores how robotic systems can be effectively and safely integrated into real-world clinical environments, with a particular focus on the physical and psychological dimensions of human-robot collaboration. One of her most cited contributions is a pilot study on surgeons’ muscle load during robotic-assisted laparoscopy, which compared the ergonomic impact of different seating options and highlighted the often-overlooked physical strain on clinicians in high-tech surgical settings. This work has garnered 24 citations and speaks to her commitment to improving operator well-being alongside technological advancement. Winther also led a large-scale ethnographic study involving 296 hours of observation across 17 hospital departments, resulting in the development of 607 process descriptions that grounded robot use cases in actual clinical needs. Additionally, her investigation into trust dynamics during rehabilitation robot interactions—where participants allowed a robot to guide their arm movements—offers early insights into the relational challenges of human-robot therapy. Through these contributions, Winther demonstrates a nuanced understanding of how robotics must adapt not only to tasks, but to the people who perform them.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Surgeons’ muscle load during robotic-assisted laparoscopy performed with a regular office chair and the preferred of two ergonomic chairs: A pilot study

   24 citations · 2018
2. 2
   Robot use cases for real needs: A large-scale ethnographic case study

   4 citations · 2019
3. 3
   Maintaining trust while fixated to a rehabilitative robot

   2 citations · 2016

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links