PISA, Italy, May 29 (Xinhua) -- At the Human-Robot Interaction Laboratory at Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Italy, researchers are testing an exoskeleton device that converts human movement into data.
For Antonio Frisoli, a professor at Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, the device reflects a broader goal: designing robots that work with people, rather than simply replacing them.
"Exoskeletons represent the highest level of symbiosis between humans and robots," Frisoli said. Unlike traditional industrial robots, an exoskeleton is worn on the body and moves together with the user. "It has to adapt to the body and make the user feel safe and comfortable."
Cristian Camardella, a researcher at the Institute of Mechanical Intelligence, said the laboratory develops rehabilitation robots, wearable robots and exoskeletons, as well as haptic feedback and teleoperation technologies that allow users to feel or remotely control actions.
In one laboratory room, Camardella demonstrated a hand exoskeleton designed for rehabilitation. Worn on a patient's hand, it helps open and close each finger. The system is connected to a game-like training program, in which the exoskeleton guides the fingers to move as the patient plays a pinball-style game.
Camardella said stroke patients often need intensive hand training in the early stages of rehabilitation. The device can operate in passive mode, moving the fingers within a preset range, or in assisted mode, supporting the patient's own efforts to move.
The hand exoskeleton is still under development and testing, and the team is preparing to send it to a hospital in Rome for clinical trials. The laboratory is also developing occupational exoskeletons that can support the upper limbs or the back and help workers reduce physical strain during lifting, bending or carrying tasks.
"The key is to make technology truly adapt to people," Frisoli said. The value of an exoskeleton, he added, depends not only on the force it provides, but also on whether it is light, comfortable, safe and reliable in real-world environments.
As to the ties and cooperation with the Chinese side, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies has long maintained ties with Chinese universities. In 2008, it established the Confucius Institute in Pisa together with Chongqing University. Frisoli recalled that it was also the moment when he began studying Chinese. He now serves as the Italian director of the institute.
Frisoli said China is advancing rapidly in robotics supply chains, system integration, artificial intelligence applications and real-world deployment. He expressed hope for stronger cooperation with Chinese universities, research institutes and enterprises in rehabilitation robotics, exoskeletons and embodied robotics, a field that combines artificial intelligence with robots capable of interacting with the physical world.
Camardella said the laboratory has developed many research prototypes that it hopes to bring closer to real applications. The team has previously showcased some rehabilitation robotic devices at the Zhongguancun Forum, hoping to better understand application needs through exchanges.
During visits to China, the team has seen an innovation ecosystem willing to invest in and cooperate on technology deployment, Camardella said.
The technological transformation driven by artificial intelligence and robotics cannot be advanced by any single country alone, Frisoli said, adding that international cooperation will help robotics better serve people's health, work and daily lives. ■