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About

Stavroula-Evita Fotinea is a researcher whose work sits at the dynamic intersection of assistive robotics, human-robot interaction (HRI), and multimodal communication systems. Her career has been largely defined by contributions to intelligent robotic mobility aids designed to support elderly individuals and people with mild cognitive or movement impairments — a field where her influence is both technically rigorous and deeply human-centered. Fotinea played a central role in two landmark assistive robotics platforms: the MOBOT robotic rollator and the i-Walk intelligent rollator. Through multiple publications spanning 2015 to 2021, she advanced the development of multimodal HRI communication models that enable robots to recognize verbal and non-verbal human signals and respond proactively and adaptively. Her work on user-centered design principles and end-user evaluation methodologies has been particularly impactful, ensuring these technologies genuinely serve their intended populations. These contributions have collectively garnered over 100 citations. Earlier in her career, Fotinea explored visual recognition of Greek Sign Language to enable gestural robot teleoperation, reflecting a longstanding interest in accessible, intuitive human-machine communication. Across her body of work, she consistently champions inclusive design, making her a quietly influential figure in socially assistive robotics research.