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Leading Robotics & AI Across Three Research Directions | Health Robotics

April 23, 2025

The HERON Center of Excellence is actively shaping the future of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, focusing on the development and application of advanced technologies across three research directions.

In the technology-focused news program Hi-Tech of Action 24, HERON Director Prof. Petros Maragos  provided in-depth insights into Health Robotics.

In his interview, he explained how Robotics in the AI era may significantly transform the field of healthcare, offering safer and more efficient solutions based on intelligent robotic technologies that directly support patients and medical professionals.

Key areas of focus include:

  • Assistive Robotics: Robotic systems that support mobility, help with medication management, and improve the quality of activities of daily living    for elderly people.
  • Robotic Surgery: Robotic applications that enable highly precise and minimally invasive procedures, enhancing surgical outcomes.
  • Telemedicine: Advanced remote-controlled robots that can transmit information about motion and biomedical signals in real time, enabling remote medical support.
  • Social Robotics: Child-Robot communication and interaction for education and edutainment. Intelligent robot companions for cognitive or emotional support of users. 

Critical challenges in this direction involve:

  • Safety and Reliability: Ensuring that robots operate reliably and securely alongside humans.
  • User Acceptance: Building trust and familiarity with robotic solutions in daily healthcare environments.
  • Ethical and Legal Issues:  Who bears the responsibility in case of an error?  Developing systems that are consistently accurate and reliable.  Privacy and data protection regulations. 

Growth opportunities are evident both in Greece and internationally, particularly in developing robotic solutions that are increasingly adaptable to human needs, supported by AI and Big Data technologies. 

👉 Watch the full interview here :  (Hi-Tech episode 27.4.2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inXL14R3T4U&list=PLFvgelOyziNmYjgUhWm3mj0FRAN4UXdDb&index=11&t=139s