BirdLab

🤖 Exploring the Future of Humanoid Robotics at BiRDLab

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming .pt to our lab for a live demonstration of the Unitree G1 — a humanoid platform that has been increasingly adopted in cutting-edge robotics research.

During the session, we had the opportunity to closely observe some of its most impressive capabilities:
🔹 High robustness to external disturbances
🔹 Agile, stable, and fast locomotion
🔹 Strong potential for advanced control and interaction scenarios

This type of platform is becoming a key asset in the development of novel approaches in control, perception, and human-robot interaction. Its versatility and performance make it a powerful tool for pushing the boundaries of research in robotics and assistive technologies.

We are particularly excited about the future, as this humanoid system is expected to become part of our lab’s research infrastructure — opening the door to new lines of work and impactful advancements in human-centered robotics 🚀

🔗 Learn more:
Unitree G1: https://www.unitree.com/g1

HP-Drones: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hpdrones/posts/?feedView=all

A big thank you to HP-Drones for the demonstration and knowledge sharing — collaborations between industry and academia are essential to drive innovation forward.

📸🎥 Here are some moments from this experience.

AssistiveTechnology CMEMS UMinho

🏅 Recognition for BiRDLab Researchers

We are proud to share that our PhD student Sara Cerqueira and our PI Cristina Santos have been recognized as Reviewer of the Month by Communications Engineering, part of the Nature Portfolio.

Peer review plays a fundamental role in maintaining the quality, rigor, and reliability of scientific research. Thoughtful and constructive reviews help ensure that new knowledge entering the scientific record is clearly communicated and methodologically sound.

Congratulations to Sara and our PI Cristina for this well-deserved recognition and for their continued contribution to strengthening the scientific community through their expertise and dedication. 👏🔬

🔗 Learn more about the recognition: https://lnkd.in/eGJ9mu2A

🦾 BiRDLab develops a lightweight and intelligent exoskeleton to support mobility

A wearable exoskeleton that feels like clothing — light, flexible, and adaptive to the user’s movement — is being developed at BiRDLab.

This innovative device aims to revolutionize physical assistance in both workplace and clinical contexts.

Its mission: to enhance mobility, reduce physical strain, and improve quality of life for individuals with motor limitations or those working in physically demanding environments.

By combining smart textiles, wearable technology, and artificial intelligence, the project seeks to create an adaptive and intuitive exoskeleton that seamlessly supports the human body — offering assistance when needed and remaining invisible when not.

Led by our Principal Investigator, Prof. Cristina Santos, the multidisciplinary team includes researchers from the Departments of Industrial Electronics, Polymers, Textiles, and Production and Systems Engineering, including BiRDLab members Joana Figueiredo, Ricardo Andrade and Sara Monteiro. The project is also supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and several industry and clinical partners.

🧠💡
This research represents a decade of BiRDLab’s work at the intersection of robotics, biomechanics, and assistive technology, transferring knowledge from clinical rehabilitation to industrial and occupational health applications.

📖 Read the full article: https://www.sas.uminho.pt/noticias/investigação-e-inovação-na-uminho:-tecnologia-que-se-veste-6962

🔗 Technology You Can Wear – UMdicas:https://www.sas.uminho.pt/cms/2025/10/UMdicas%20204.pdf

📢 Another BirdLab publication from this summer!

Our team continues to push the boundaries of technology and healthcare. The latest article, “Mixed reality in orthopaedics: A systematic review and meta-analysis on clinical and technological aspects,” published in Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, explores how Mixed Reality (MR) is reshaping modern orthopaedics by improving surgical precision, reducing invasiveness, and enabling radiation-free procedures.

This comprehensive review highlights both the clinical and technological dimensions of MR-based tools — from surgical navigation and hardware solutions to tracking and registration challenges — pointing the way toward safer, smarter, and more efficient interventions.

👏 Congratulations to the authors Diana Rito, Roberto M. Barbosa, Manuel Vieira da Silva, Carlos Sampaio Macedo, Victor Alves, and our PI Cristina P. Santos for this outstanding contribution to the field!

🔗 Read the full article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169260725004286?via%3Dihub

www.sciencedirect.com