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About

Ludovic Dovat is a pioneering researcher in the field of robotic rehabilitation engineering, with a specialized focus on restoring hand and upper limb function in stroke survivors. His work sits at the intersection of mechatronics, haptics, and clinical rehabilitation, producing innovative devices that have fundamentally advanced how neurological recovery is approached after stroke. Dovat's most celebrated contribution is the HandCARE system — a cable-actuated robotic interface enabling precise force control and individualized finger training — which has garnered over 230 citations and remains a landmark in rehabilitation robotics. Equally influential is his Haptic Knob, a two-degree-of-freedom device designed to retrain grasping and forearm pronation/supination, cited nearly 200 times and validated through multiple clinical pilot studies demonstrating measurable gains in chronic stroke patients. His exploration of actuation methods for MRI-compatible environments, with over 113 citations, further demonstrates his breadth in tackling challenging engineering constraints. Collectively, Dovat's portfolio of work — accumulating over 800 citations — addresses a critical gap in distal upper limb rehabilitation, where effective robotic interventions have historically lagged. His research offers both practical tools and rigorous clinical frameworks that continue to inform rehabilitation engineering worldwide.