Didde M. Hellestrup

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Didde M. Hellestrup is a researcher whose work lies at the compelling intersection of human-robot interaction and rehabilitation technology. Her primary research focus is on the dynamics of trust between humans and assistive robotic systems, particularly in therapeutic contexts. Her most notable contribution, the 2016 paper "Maintaining trust while fixated to a rehabilitative robot," explores how users maintain confidence in a robot—specifically the RoboTrainer—as it physically guides their limbs through precise movements. In a carefully designed study, participants experienced the robot leading their arms through a 3D coordinate space, with some sessions involving deliberate deviations to test trust resilience. This work, though early in its citation life, addresses a critical psychological barrier in rehabilitation robotics: the delicate balance between patient reliance and system reliability. Hellestrup’s research is foundational for engineers and therapists designing robots that must earn and sustain user trust during vulnerable, physically guided interactions. Her findings have direct implications for improving patient compliance and safety in automated rehabilitation, marking her as a thoughtful voice in the ethical and practical deployment of assistive technologies.