Mike Topping
Papers
8
Total Citations
272
H-Index
7
About
Mike Topping has dedicated his career to transforming the lives of individuals with severe disabilities through pioneering rehabilitation robotics. His primary research focuses on developing assistive robotic systems that restore independence in daily activities, most notably through the creation of the Handy 1 system. This low-cost, commercially available rehabilitation robot, which has helped over 100 severely disabled users, is widely recognized as the most successful device of its kind worldwide. Topping’s work, documented in highly cited papers such as "An Overview of the Development of Handy 1" (95 citations) and "The development of Handy 1" (46 citations), demonstrates his commitment to practical, life-changing technology. Beyond feeding assistance, he extended his impact to education with the Handy Artbox, a robotic drawing aid that enables children with limited movement to create art independently, as shown in a case study at a Staffordshire school. Topping also contributed to general-purpose service robotics with the Flexibot (12 citations) and the MATS Robot. His achievements have not only advanced the field of rehabilitation robotics but have also provided tangible tools that empower individuals to regain control over their lives, making him a true pioneer in assistive technology.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3Handy 1, a robotic aid to independence for severely disabled people37 citations · 1996
- 4
- 5
- 6Early experience in the use of the ‘Handy 1’ robotic aid to eating12 citations · 1993
- 7Flexibot – a multi‐functional general purpose service robot12 citations · 2001
- 8The MATS Robot6 citations · 2006