Johannes Lachner

Johannes Lachner’s research focuses on applying motor neuroscience and robot control to aid individuals with neurological and physical disorders. More specifically, he is developing personalized robot-aided rehabilitation systems that could improve the therapy provided to stroke survivors and relieve caregivers from physically demanding work. In his doctoral research, he applied differential geometric methods to achieve stable, safe, and efficient control of robots interacting with people and the environment. As an MIT-Novo Nordisk Artificial Intelligence Postdoctoral Fellow, Johannes will develop the mechanical, electrical, and software-based subsystems necessary to apply his theoretical research to practical robot-based stroke rehabilitation. By incorporating human therapists’ actions into robot-aided treatment, his work could expand access to care and promote superior outcomes. Additionally, he aims to deploy advanced mathematical tools to interpret data that is observed, for example, the geometry of movements by unimpaired people and movements by stroke survivors that could quantify impairment. Johannes’s work has the potential to advance the field of robot-aided rehabilitation and revolutionize therapy, offering tailored and efficient treatments while prioritizing patient comfort, building trust, and reducing the physical toll on healthcare professionals.