Introduction to neurorobotics: From neural control to embodied systems and robotic interaction (2027)

Welcome to Introduction to neurorobotics: From neural control to embodied systems and robotic interaction

Description:

NeuroRobotics is an interdisciplinary field combining neuroscience, robotics, biomechanics, and artificial intelligence to understand and replicate biological control of movement in artificial systems. The field has gained increasing relevance with the development of assistive technologies such as exoskeletons, prostheses, and rehabilitation robots, as well as bio-inspired robotic systems capable of interacting with complex environments.

Despite rapid technological advances, many PhD students in engineering lack formal training in how principles of neural control translate into robotic implementations, and how interactions between the nervous system, body mechanics, and environment shape behavior. Furthermore, there is often a disconnect between understanding biological motor control and implementing robotic systems capable of performing meaningful tasks such as object manipulation and physical interaction.

This course addresses these gaps by linking neural control principles (e.g., motor unit behavior, sensory feedback, and predictive control) with robotic execution strategies, including object manipulation, force–torque and impedance control, and feedforward modeling. A central concept of the course is embodiment, where behavior emerges from the interaction between neural control, body structure, and environmental constraints

Prerequisites:

Participants should have a background in engineering, biomechanics, robotics, neuroscience, or a related field. Basic knowledge of control systems and human movement analysis is recommended.

Learning objectives:

1) Explain key principles of neural control of human movement, including motor unit behavior, sensory feedback, and predictive mechanisms; 

2) Describe how biological control principles can be translated into robotic control architectures; 

3) Explain and apply concepts of force–torque and impedance control in human–robot interaction; 

4) Propose basic neurorobotic control strategies integrating sensing, prediction, and physical interaction

Teaching methods:

The course combines theoretical lectures, interactive discussions, simulation-based exercises and practical demonstrations. The lectures will have a strong focus on applications in rehabilitation, human–robot interaction, assistive technologies, and robotic manipulation.

Key literature:

TBA

Organizer: Anderson de Souza Castelo Oliveira

Lecturers: Anderson de Souza Castelo Oliveira, Strahinja Dosen, Dimitris Chrysostomou

ECTS: 2.0

Date: 17, 18 March 2027

Place: Aalborg University

City: Aalborg

Maximal number of participants: 20

Open for enrolment: 17 November 2026

Deadline for enrolment: 24 February 2027

Important information concerning PhD courses:

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

For external PhD students: This course is a general course and is prioritized for PhD Students enrolled at Aalborg University. If there are available seats, PhD students from other universities will be accepted. You will be notified shortly after the deadline if you have been accepted.

To attend courses at the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology you must be enrolled as a PhD student.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

You may find more information in our FAQ: https://phd.moodle.aau.dk/local/page/faq

For inquiries not described in the FAQ, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk. When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.