Medical Assistance Systems

Sinem and Carolin at the IEEE RAS Summer School: A successful week and interesting insights

Medical Assistance Systems — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 13:37:23 +0200

From 7 to 11 September, Carolin Klute and Sinem Görmez were on Fraueninsel in Lake Chiemsee to take part in the first IEEE RAS Summer School in Germany: ‘Decision-Making for Cognitive Robots — where AI meets Robotics for the next generation of researchers’. Organised by the IEEE RAS Germany Chapter, the summer school took place at Frauenwörth Abbey and was aimed at PhD students and early-career researchers.

The focus was on how AI-based decision-making processes and robotics can be combined: How can high-level and low-level autonomy be integrated in such a way that robots can pursue their goals even in interactive, dynamic and uncertain environments?
The programme was tightly packed. There were fascinating talks on robot learning, the mobility of humanoid robots and exploration in reinforcement learning, as well as interactive laboratory sessions and an entrepreneurship workshop.

The brief project presentations by all participants were also particularly insightful. They provided a good overview of related fields of research and offered plenty of starting points for discussion. The setting on the island also played its part: between sessions and over meals, conversations flowed easily, and some of these connections are sure to last beyond the week.

Journal article in Frontiers in Computer Science published

Medical Assistance Systems — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:17:55 +0200

Our joint paper "Knowledge- and memory-based interactive task learning for human robot collaboration" appeared on 16 September 2026 in Frontiers in Computer Science (Section: Human-Media Interaction). It was written as a collaborative work of the AICOR Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the Medical Assistance Systems research group and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT).

The paper addresses task generalization. Robots trained by imitation reproduce observed motions but not the semantics behind them, so a robot that has learned to slice a cucumber fails when asked to quarter an apple. The framework links actionable knowledge graphs (AKGs), which hold object roles, affordances and parameter ranges such as cut position or tilt angle, with narrative-enabled episodic memories (NEEMs), which record concrete interactions. Shared identifiers connect the two, so the robot can query the parameter space of an observed action and ask for missing values.

Julian and Manuel at IEEE RO-MAN 2026

Medical Assistance Systems — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:56:33 +0200

Manuel Scheibl and Julian Leichert successfully participated in the IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN) in Kitakyushu, Japan, where they presented their work.

Julian Leichert presented the paper “Virtual Agent Tutors in Sheltered Workshops: A Feasibility Study on Attention Training for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities”. The study investigates whether virtual tutors can be used for attention training in workshops for people with disabilities.
Manuel Scheibl presented “Sense4HRI: A ROS 2 HRI Framework for Physiological Sensor Integration and Synchronized Logging”, a framework that integrates physiological sensor data into human-robot interaction studies and records it in a time-synchronized manner.

The plenary talk by Prof. Aude Billard was particularly memorable.
Her argument: Humanoid robots do not need to be modeled after the human body; rather, they can utilize movements and designs that are not even possible for humans. So instead of asking how closely a robot can resemble a human, the question should be, conversely, where it should meaningfully go beyond human capabilities.
In addition to the conference program, the itinerary included company tours at TOTO and YASKAWA, two Kitakyushu-based firms with very different connections to robotics and sensor technology.
The weather was excellent all week, which made the trips between the conference venue and the city very pleasant.

The two returned with new contacts, exciting impressions, and a long reading list.

27.08.2026 Collaboration Visit & New Stage Data Collection Kick-off for FIND-AF 2

Medical Assistance Systems — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:37:29 +0200

On August 27, the MAS AG team (Prof. Dr. Britta Wrede and Dr. Evgenii Pustozerov) hosted Dr. Tobias Uhe (Universitätsklinikum Leipzig) and Prof. Wolf-Rüdiger Schäbitz (Ev. Klinikum Bethel) to kick off a new data collection phase within the FIND-AF 2 study.

The collaboration quickly moved from the meeting room to the field: following their project alignment, the researchers headed straight to the Universitätsklinik für Neurologie (Haus Gilead I) to successfully equip the first two patients. The core of this joint effort is building a highly unique dataset from the ground up.
The researchers are recording 24-hour long-term ECGs using novel patch devices in parallel with standard Holter monitors. By capturing this side-by-side data, the team will be able to meticulously annotate a wide range of cardiac events. This paired dataset will provide the exact ground truth needed.
Based on this, MAS AG is developing and training new AI tools capable of detecting hidden Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and other cardiac complications that traditional methods might miss.

Students from the “Digitalization in Care” Course Visit the Showroom

Medical Assistance Systems — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 12:39:33 +0200

On July 20 and 21, 2026, we welcomed a group of about 15 participants from the “Digitalization in Care” course to the Showroom “Interactive Assistance Technology in Medicine and Care" on each day. Following an introduction to the various topics covered in the showroom, we presented systems such as Paro, ichó, Livy Care, OverCare, Robocamp, and virtual reality applications.
The discussion with these future healthcare professionals about the opportunities, challenges, and potential applications of digital assistive technologies in everyday nursing practice were particularly enriching.

We would like to express our gratitude for the great interest shown and the lively discussions, which provided valuable input for the dialogue between research and practice.

Carolin and Sinem at the IEEE RAS Summer School

Medical Assistance Systems — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 12:56:54 +0200

Our research assistants Carolin Klute and Sinem Görmez have been selected to participate in the IEEE RAS Summer School on Cognitive Robotics – Bridging AI and Robotics.
The Summer School will take place from September 7 to 11, 2026, at the Abtei Frauenwörth on Lake Chiemsee and is aimed at selected early-career researchers in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence. Organized by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) German Chapter, the Summer School brings together international experts from the fields of cognitive robotics, AI, and autonomous systems. The program includes lectures and discussions on topics such as decision-making, machine learning, planning, human-robot interaction, and the development of intelligent robotic systems.

The summer school offers the opportunity to exchange ideas with international researchers, learn about current developments in robotics research, and gain new insights.

New Publication: Adaptive Scaffolding of Understanding in HRI

Medical Assistance Systems — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 15:44:20 +0200

We're happy to share that our paper "Leveraging Cognitive States for Adaptive Scaffolding of Understanding in Explanatory Tasks in HRI" has been accepted for publication in ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction (THRI).

The paper is authored by Andre Groß, Bjarne Thomzik, Britta Wrede, and Birte Richter and was developed as part of the Collaborative Research Center TRR 318 – Constructing Explainability within Project A05.
In this work, we investigate how robots can adapt their explanations to users' cognitive states by continuously estimating their level of understanding.
Our results show that adaptive scaffolding strategies can substantially improve task understanding, reducing errors by almost 23%.

We are excited to see our work published soon and look forward to sharing the final version with the community!

Two papers at IEEE RO-MAN 2026

Medical Assistance Systems — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 15:35:41 +0200

We are very excited: Two papers from our working group have been submitted to IEEE RO-MAN 2026 and will be presented there!

The paper “Virtual Agent Tutors in Sheltered Workshops: A Feasibility Study on Attention Training for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities” by Julian Leichert, Monique Koke, Britta Wrede und Birte Richter presents an initial feasibility study on attention training using a virtual agent, which was developed in close collaboration with the proWerk workshop. The study examines whether the system can be used at the facility and what adjustments to RoboCamp are necessary to reduce barriers.
We are particularly proud that all adjustments were developed through an iterative and inclusive participatory process together with the facility’s staff and employees.

The second paper, “Sense4HRI: A ROS 2 HRI Framework for Physiological Sensor Integration and Synchronized Logging,” by Manuel Scheibl, Julian Leichert, Sinem Görmez and Britta Wrede extends the ROS4HRI framework to include standardized integration of physiological sensors, thereby opening up new possibilities for HRI research.
At its core is a modular architecture with reusable interfaces that decouples sensor data from its interpretation and enables the synchronized recording of physiological signals alongside the interaction context.

We look forward to the conference and the in-person exchange!

GENIALE 2026 at the Wissenswerkstatt Bielefeld

Medical Assistance Systems — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:25:30 +0200

As part of GENIALE 2026, we invite you to our program item on Thursday, October 29, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Wissenswerkstatt Bielefeld.

The Medical Assistance Systems (MAS) Research Group will be represented together with the Interactive Robotics in Medicine and Care (IR) Research Group. Under the program item “Speed Dating: Experience Robotic Assistance Systems in Medicine and Care," we’ll provide exciting insights into our current research and demonstrate how innovative assistance systems and robotics can support people’s everyday lives. In addition, we’ll present selected prototypes in an exhibition right at the Wissenswerkstatt. Visitors will have the chance to learn about and try out technical assistance systems and talk with our researchers.

We look forward to October 29, 2026!

The complete GENIALE program and further information about our session can be found here: GENIALE 2026 Program Booklet

Research in Everyday Life: Sinem Görmez in the “Science irl” Video Series

Medical Assistance Systems — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 10:51:42 +0200

In Bielefeld University’s LinkedIn video series “Science irl,” Sinem Görmez from our Medical Assistance Systems Research Group provides insights into her research.
The video explores how robots can explain tasks in a way that humans can easily understand—especially when negations come into play, such as “don’t press the red button.” Such phrasing is often difficult to process in everyday life, yet it can be essential and helpful in explanations.
This is exactly what Sinem is investigating as part of the TRR 318 “Constructing Explainability” project, together with the humanoid robot NAO.

Strengthening Participatory Forms of Collaboration: Participation in the Development of a Profile-Based Assistive Technology Database

Medical Assistance Systems — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 21:27:42 +0200

As part of Bielefeld University’s AI*IM focus area, opportunities are opening up for people with disabilities to participate in the Medical Assistance Systems Working Group. Our inclusive research assistants, Christian Buchmann and Viola von Werder, are now helping to further develop our prototype database “Co.Aid: The Assistive Technology Database,” which was conceptually developed as part of the BRAVO project led by Monique Koke and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Britta Wrede. The final product is intended to be made available in an open-access format for people with disabilities and for advice on assistive devices.

02.06.26: BRAVO Project Closing Ceremony

Medical Assistance Systems — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:50:40 +0200

On June 2, 2026, the official closing ceremony for the BRAVO project took place in the ballroom of Haus Nazareth in Bethel. Prof. Dr. Melissa Henne from the Diakonie University of Applied Sciences appeared as a guest speaker. In her presentation, “Digital Empowerment Through Counseling,” she provided attendees with insight into the topic of enhancing digital participation for people with disabilities through counseling.
This also brought one question into focus: How should counseling be structured?
Findings from the BRAVO project show that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. But there are people who are committed to integrating support—for example, in the form of digital tools—where it is needed. From our perspective, the event was a good opportunity to network with one another (once again): In particular, our assistive technology database “Co.Aid: The Assistive Technology Database”, which is intended to be publicly accessible in the future, and the presentation of two different questionnaires in Easy Language, which, once validated, can be used, among other things, to support assistive technology counseling for people with disabilities, opened up opportunities for exchange, for example, with the Barrierefrei NRW Foundation and Prof. Dr. Manuela Weidekamp-Maicher of Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences.
Demo tables featuring assistive devices and a closing buffet invited attendees to linger and chat.

We’d like to thank everyone for their cooperation and say BRAVO! We did it!

Booster K1 Visits MAS

Medical Assistance Systems — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:30:36 +0200

On June 11, 2026, we were pleased to welcome Demi Peng from Booster Robotics to our working group. She was accompanied by the humanoid robot Booster K1.
For us, it was a special opportunity not only to get to know the robot up close, but also to try it out and control it ourselves.
We were particularly pleased by the high level of interest: More than 30 people came to our showroom, including many colleagues from CITEC. It was great to see how full the room was and how much discussion arose about current developments in humanoid robotics.

Thank you very much to Booster Robotics for the exciting visit and the opportunity to experience Booster K1 in person!

Text: Sinem Görmez, AG MAS

The Medical Assistance Systems Working Group represented at ICRA 2026 in Vienna

Medical Assistance Systems — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:03:42 +0200

In early June, the “Medical Assistance Systems” working group presented research papers from TRR 318 “Constructing Explainability” at the “IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation” (ICRA) 2026 in Vienna.
Carolin Klute and Sinem Görmez jointly participated in the workshop “Robot Ethics: Ethical, Legal, and User Perspectives in Robotics & Automation.” In her presentation, Carolin Klute introduced an ethical framework for the development of AI systems that adapt their behavior to human emotions. Sinem Görmez presented a poster on responsible verbal support in human-robot interaction.
The workshop focused on ethical, legal, and user-centered perspectives on robotics and automation and provided a space for discussions on how robotic systems can be designed responsibly and deployed in human living and working environments.

For the working group participants, ICRA 2026 was a valuable opportunity to keep updated on current developments in the international robotics community, make new contacts, and discuss their own research in an international context.
Particularly impressive were the large exhibition featuring robots, demonstrators, and industry partners, as well as various competitions in which teams presented their systems under real-world conditions. This allowed research to be not only discussed but also directly experienced.

In keeping with the conference motto “Robots for All,” the “Festival of Robots” also took place in Vienna.
At Karlsplatz, visitors could experience and try out robotics for free and engage in conversation with researchers and companies. Thus, the stay in Vienna not only offered the opportunity to raise the international profile of one’s own research but also to gain diverse insights from academia, industry, and the public.

The IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) is one of the world’s most important conferences in the field of robotics and automation. With 7,605 registrations, the conference provided an impressive setting for international scientific exchange, the latest research findings, robotics demonstrations, competitions, and a large industry exhibition.

Visiting Hannover Messe 2026

Medical Assistance Systems — Tue, 12 May 2026 11:53:47 +0200

Several researchers from our Medical Assistance Systems Group attended Hannover Messe 2026 to explore current robotic systems.
The focus was on new developments in sensor technology, human-robot interaction, and modular platforms that can also be transferred to medical applications.

We are coming back with many impressions and starting points for our future research.

A highlight-video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGC6VfWMABQ

TRR 318 Research Presented at the “Eingeloggt!” Week at Wissenswerkstadt Bielefeld

Medical Assistance Systems — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:55:34 +0200

On March 16, Prof. Dr. Britta Wrede, head of the Medical Assistive Systems research group and principal investigator in the Collaborative Research Centre (TRR) 318 “Constructing Explainability”, contributed to the theme week “Eingeloggt!” at the Wissenswerkstadt Bielefeld.
Together with Prof. Dr. Katharina Rohlfing, psycholinguist at Paderborn University and spokesperson of TRR 318, she gave a talk titled “It Takes at Least Two to Explain – Why AI Needs You to Explain!”

The two researchers provided insights into current research on explainable AI. They demonstrated that successful explanations require an interplay between humans and machines. Their presentation was based on findings from Projects A01 “Adaptive Explaining” and A05 “Contextualized Scaffolding in Human–Robot Explanatory Dialogue.” They illustrated how explanations can be adapted to users and how robots can support learning through tailored assistance strategies that respond to individual needs.

The event was part of the digital theme week “Eingeloggt!”, which was primarily aimed at people over 50 and sought to facilitate access to digital technologies and AI through workshops and talks.

TRR 318 entered its second funding phase!

Medical Assistance Systems — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:52:29 +0100

With a kick-off event on March 3 at the CITEC building of Bielefeld University, the Collaborative Research Center / Transregio TRR 318 “Constructing Explainability” officially entered its second funding phase. The next phase of joint research was launched with presentations as well as several exchange formats for members and associates.

During the first funding phase, the researchers demonstrated that explanations are only effective when the perspective of those receiving the explanation is taken into account.
Building on these insights, the second funding phase will focus in particular on the context of explanations – including different situations, settings, individuals, and the shared knowledge that emerges through dialogue.

The aim of the upcoming research phase is to investigate how explanations need to adapt to these contextual conditions and how AI systems can respond to them. In the future, AI systems should be able to generate explanations more flexibly and continue the dialogue with users in a way that is appropriate to the situation.

More than 60 researchers from seven disciplines are involved in TRR 318 across a total of 20 subprojects.
The Medical Assistance Systems group participates in three of these projects: A03, A05, and WIKO.

New Team Member at AG Medical Assistance Systems

Medical Assistance Systems — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:13:26 +0100

Since March 1, Carolin Klute has joined the Medical Assistance Systems group as a research associate.

She is pursuing her PhD in project A03 of the TRR 318 “Constructing Explainability.”
In her doctoral research, she investigates the influence of emotions on explanation processes in human–AI interaction, particularly how emotional arousal affects the way people process AI explanations.

Within project A03, she works on the development of an interactive system that supports users in understanding recommendations and their explanations even in emotionally charged situations. The goal is to make visible how emotional states influence the reception of AI explanations and how systems can respond to this in order to improve understanding and support informed decision-making

Deep Dive into Multimodal HRI at SoRAIM 2026!

Medical Assistance Systems — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:01:42 +0100

Last week, Julian Leichert and Manuel Scheibl had the pleasure of attending the SoRAIM 2026 Winterschool in the beautiful snowy setting of Autrans, France.

It was an intensive week filled with insightful sessions on multimodality in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). A particular highlight was the talk by Dr. Maribel Pino, who shared perspectives on the real-world applications and hurdles of deploying robotics in healthcare.

A huge thank you to Thomas Hueber and Xavier Alameda-Pineda for the seamless organization of this event!
We also want to give a special shoutout to Lorenzo Ferrini from PAL Robotics for an ambitious and hands-on workshop with the TIAGo Robot!

Kick-off of Project A05: Launching the New Research Phase

Medical Assistance Systems — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:18:54 +0100

On Tuesday, 10 February 2026, the kick-off meeting of Project A05 within the Collaborative Research Center TRR 318 “Constructing Explainability” took place. The project “Contextualized and online parametrization of scaffolding in human–robot explanatory dialog” is jointly conducted by Bielefeld University and Paderborn University.

Researchers from both sites met to coordinate the next steps and to develop initial conceptual ideas for the new funding phase.
In addition to planning the research activities, the meeting provided an opportunity for personal exchange and for strengthening the collaboration between the two partner universities.

Participants of the kick-off included Prof. Dr.-Ing. Britta Wrede and Sinem Görmez of Bielefeld University as well as Prof. Dr. Katharina Rohlfing and Amit Singh of Paderborn University. Together, they defined key objectives and milestones for the coming months.

The team looks forward to continuing this successful collaboration in the second funding phase.
The successful start of the project concluded with a joint dinner.

01.02.26 New Team Member In Our Research Group

Medical Assistance Systems — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 19:51:42 +0100

We are delighted to welcome Sinem Görmez to the Medical Assistance Systems (MAS) research group as of February!

Sinem is pursuing her PhD in Project A05 of the Collaborative Research Center/Transregio 318 “Constructing Explainability”, supervised by Prof. Dr. Britta Wrede.

She completed her dual bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics/Automation at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (HSBI) in cooperation with Schüco International KG, and earned her master’s degree in Information Technology from OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts (TH OWL) in Lemgo. Prior to joining MAS, Sinem worked as a Research Manager in the SAIL Research Network.

In her doctoral research, she investigates— from a practice-oriented research perspective—how explainability is constructed in real interactions and how different forms of explanations influence understanding, trust, and decision-making.
Within TRR 318, she works on advancing interactive explanatory systems, such as the NAO robot, which aim to make AI-based decisions and processes transparent and comprehensible. A particular focus lies on the use of negation and contrast (e.g., “what it is / what it is not” or “why option A instead of B”) to foster understanding and support informed decisions.

Interview on the AI*IM Focus Area Published in BI.research

Medical Assistance Systems — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 19:29:28 +0100

The newly released BI.research magazine of Bielefeld University (Issue 55/2026) features an interview with Anna-Lisa Vollmer, head of the Interactive Robotics research group, and Britta Wrede, head of the Medical Assistive Systems research group.
The interview focuses on the AI*IM focus area. They discuss the goals and perspectives of AI*IM and illustrate how interdisciplinary research at Bielefeld University contributes to the development of human-centered, interactive AI.

The AI*IM (Artificial Intelligence and Inclusive Medicine) focus area brings together researchers from nine faculties with the shared goal of sustainably improving health, participation, and self-determination for people with cognitive impairments through inclusive assistive technologies and artificial intelligence.

The interview offers insightful perspectives on approaches to medical inclusion within the AI*IM focus area and highlights why research must be conceived and conducted collaboratively across disciplines.

👉 The full interview is available online in the current issue of BI.research: https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/uni/presse-medien/publikationen/bi-research/BI.research_55_2026.pdf (pp. 14–17)

01.02.26 Two Years Anniversary of our Showroom „Interactive technology for medical assistance in medicine and care"

Medical Assistance Systems — Tue, 3 Feb 2026 12:43:00 +0100

Our showroom can look back on two years of intensive use and development.

As a place for teaching, research and dialogue, it brings assistance systems from medicine and care to life - from commercial products to research prototypes - and offers space for testing, discussion and classification.

To mark the anniversary, the content focus has been reorganised: The areas of "Teaching & Training" and "Diagnosis" complement the existing focal points of "Co-Design" and "Therapy and Rehabilitation", while "Prevention" and "Everyday Assistance" have been merged. The exhibition of systems from partner working groups emphasises the cooperative nature of the showroom. With a view to the Science Year "Medicine of the Future" and GENIALE 2026 ("How are we doing"), the showroom remains a space for thinking ahead together.

Many thanks to all those who have shaped this place over the past two years.

06.01.26 Showroom Demo with Health Sciences Students

Medical Assistance Systems — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:45:05 +0100

On January 6, 2026, we were once again pleased to welcome Ms. Düvel and her students from the Bachelor’s program in Health Sciences (B.Sc. Health Communication) to our showroom.

As part of the module Introduction to E-Health and the Digitalization of Healthcare, they were once again interested in learning about various assistive systems used in medicine and care.

In the showroom, we presented our well-established exhibits, including RoboCamp, the attention training system for people with ADHD, and assistive systems designed for people with dementia. A new addition this time was the robot Blossom from the Research Group Interactive Robotics in Medicine and Care:

👉 https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/medizin/fakultaet/arbeitsgruppen/robotics/forschung/plattformen/blossom/

We hope that the visit provided the students with a valuable opportunity to connect theoretical content from their studies with concrete applications from research and practice. We would like to thank everyone for the engaging exchange and look forward to future visits!

11.12.2025 HSBI Students Visit the Showroom

Medical Assistance Systems — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:33:28 +0100

On December 11, we were pleased to welcome Professor Klemme, Professor of Physiotherapy, together with students from Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (HSBI) to our showroom.

The group consisted of therapists with completed vocational training and practical experience in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or speech and language therapy, who are currently enrolled in the Bachelor’s program in Health or the Master’s program in Vocational Education at HSBI.

During the visit, the students gained insights into various technical assistive systems and their research- and practice-oriented applications in therapy, diagnostics, and care. Two research projects were presented: the attention training system with the virtual agent Flobi, and the mobile robot Nao, designed to promote sports and physical activity among children and adolescents. In addition, the Ichó Ball and the robotic seal Paro were showcased as commercial products already in use for motor, linguistic, and cognitive support in care facilities.

We would like to thank everyone for the great interest and the open exchange, and we hope that the showroom visit provided an inspiring and valuable addition to the study programs.