Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Prof. Dr. ir. Tom Verstraten
Professor

Address:
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Faculty of Applied Sciences
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Building Z, Room ZW102
Pleinlaan , 2
B-1050 Brussels
Belgium

Phone: +32 2 6291309
E-mail: Tom.Verstraten@vub.be


Bio

Tom Verstraten (1989) is a professor at the Robotics & Multibody Mechanics Research Group (R&MM) of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with Flanders Make and Brubotics. He obtained his Master's degree in Electromechanical Engineering (2012) and Ph.D. (2018) from VUB, and in between worked in industry at Aquasystems International, a manufacturer of wastewater treatment equipment. For his Master's thesis he received the ie-net award for best thesis in engineering, and he was awarded fellowships from the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) for both doctoral and postdoctoral research.

He broadened his international experience as a visiting researcher at TU Darmstadt (2017) and as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the University of Tulsa (2018-2019). His expertise lies in the design of energy-efficient actuation systems, and their application in robotic prostheses, exoskeletons, and collaborative robots. In recent years, his work has increasingly focused on the human domain, where he develops methods for digital human twins, skill capture, and performance assessment. Through close collaboration with human movement scientists and clinicians, his goal is to create human-centered robotic technologies that enhance mobility, safety, and quality of life

Selected research projects

  • RevalExo: a wearable lower-limb exoskeleton that assists activities of daily living and enables data-driven remote rehabilitation (Oct 2023 - present, FWO-SBO, PI / project co-ordinator, € 2.102.110)
  • AidWear: AI-Driven Wearable Robotics for Healthcare (Dec 2023-present, FOD BOSA, Promotor-spokesperson, € 1.782.366)
  • Smart Mechatronic Ankle-Foot Orthosis Platform for Gait Assistance and Augmentation (SmartANKLE) (Oct 2023 - .., MSCA doctoral network, PI, € 1.565.275)
  • AI4exo: Improving wearability and acceptance of AI-driven human-centered robotics (Nov 2022 - Oct 2023, FOD BOSA, PI / project co-ordinator, € 676.130)
  • Energy-efficient, Lightweight, Safe Yet strong manipulator Arm (ELYSA) for cobot applications (Oct 2020 - Sep 2024, FWO-SBO/E, PI / project co-ordinator, € 2.204.005)
  • Autocraft_SBO: Automated Craftmanship skill transfer (Oct 2022 - present, Flanders Make SBO, PI, &eur0; 849.839)
  • PoweRing: A gearbox for the next generation robots (May 2022–Apr 2024, Vlaio Innovatiemandaat Spin-off, Promotor, € 257.493)
  • HUSKK: Exoskeletons for industrial workers (2025–present, Innoviris Spin-off, Promotor, € 576.616)

Publications

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