HospiBot Team

Who is part of our cross-border project exploring the use of robots in healthcare? More than 40 team members from ten partner institutions are collaborating to explore how robots can support future healthcare. Get to know some of them and learn about their roles within HospiBot.

Oskar Palinko

Associate Professor in Human-Robot-Interaction, University of Southern Denmark

Hi, I am Oskar! As the coordinator of this project I am responsible for the general workflow and deliverables we need to produce. It has been an amazing experience to interact with such a diverse group of colleagues as we are working on deepening the collaboration between hospitals, universities and companies on both sides of the Danish-German border.

Pol Barrera Valls

Masters student and PhD candidate at University of Southern Denmark (SDU)

Quickly after starting my master’s degree in Robotic Systems at SDU, I joined the HospiBot team working on a project called ‘RoboTale’. After that project ended  I am now designing the verbal and gestural interaction of HospiBot’s humanoid robot HuGO.

Oliver Niebuhr

Accociate Professor of Communication and Innovation, University of Southern Denmark 

 

Hi! In the HospiBot Project I help to ensure that our robots strike — and sense — the right tone in human interaction. Can they recognize if someone is stressed, helpless, frustrated, or being polite? The goal is for the robot to pick up on such cues and respond accordingly. In short, my team and I at SDU (CIE campus Sønderborg) bring the social and empathic dimensions into the project. And it’s a lot of fun — because when it comes to these aspects, there’s still so much to learn and many gaps to fill.

Sabine Paasch Olsen

Project Manager in the Clinical Research Department at Sygehus Sønderjylland

I am responsible for coordinating the testing of the HospiBot robot modules in real hospital settings. My background as a nurse and project leader within healthcare innovation has given me a strong focus on how technology can support both patients and healthcare professionals. Being part of the HospiBot project allows me to combine my passion for clinical practice, innovation, and collaboration — helping bring robotics closer to everyday healthcare.

Maja Schøler

PhD and consultant, Research Department Zealand University Hospital (ZUH)

I participate in testing the HospiBot robots. My role in the project is to gather qualitative and quantitative data during the tests at ZUH and to participate in the development of policy documents and scientific publications based on the gathered data.

Lina Behrends

Research Associate at Fraunhofer IMTE

Hello! I am a research associate in the HospiBot project, primarily working on the development of a policy document for the use of mobile service robots in hospitals within the German-Danish program region. The aim is to facilitate the cross-border deployment of these innovative service robot technologies in hospitals.

Chandrahas Kasoju

PhD candidate at University Hospital in Luebeck

I am developing the patrolling module ‘Tele’, which is a service robot designed for healthcare environments. My research focuses on equipping the robot with an effective multi-sensor perception system—combining technologies such as radar and thermal imaging. My ultimate goal is to design and build a fully functional mobile robot capable of autonomous patrolling, situational awareness, and intelligent decision-making through behavior integration.

Robert Wendlandt

Head of Biomechanics Laboratory at University Hospital in Luebeck

I’m part of the payload development team. Our goal is to create the payload modules matching a unique demand in hospitals. We aim to relief hospital staff from non-medical and routine tasks to give them more time to take care of the patients.

Angelina Stoyanova Wolf

Innovation Consultant & Project Leader at CCR, Odense University Hospital

Hi, I am part of the HospiBot clinical tests team. My role in the project is to coordinate and conduct clinical testing, ensuring the robots are integrated meaningfully into hospital workflows and meet the needs of healthcare staff and patients.

Esben Hansen

Team Leader & Technical Manager at CCR, Odense University Hospital

I operate the hospital’s daily robot installation and have, among other things, 8 years of experience with operating mobile robots in a hospital environment, as well as many years of experience with implementing new innovative robot solutions in the hospital world. My role in the project is to share experiences about our knowledge with robots in a hospital setting and to test some of the solutions 1 to 1 here at our Hospital.

Chandrahas Kasoju

Professor for Interactive Media, Kiel University of Applied Science

As a professor for interactive media I investigate how people interact with technology and how that interaction can be improved through thoughtful design. There is a lot of research potential in communication between human and robots. In the HospiBot project we gain insights about the user interface design that makes communicating with robots feel intuitive and pleasant.

Wiebke Behrens-Focken

Master Student Applied Communication Science, Kiel University of Applied Science

Hi! Im part of HospiBot’s external communications team. My aim is to make the complex work behind our research project understandable and accessible to a broader audience. That way I can raise awareness of intelligent technologies like robots, foster trust in their use, and encourage public dialogue about their role in healthcare and society.