How can we make robots accessible and useful tools for everyone? In this talk, I will share part of my PhD journey carried out at the “Enzo Ferrari” Engineering Department in the field of Assistive Robotics. We will start from a real-world use case at the Modena General Hospital (Policlinico di Modena), where a Large Language Model (LLM) was used to allow doctors to control the NAO social robot via natural language, supporting clinical visits for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Next, we will focus on a collaborative robot whose task is the fluid and contextual handover of objects based on the user’s intended use. We will explore an AI-based adaptive framework for human-robot object handover, aimed at deployment in domestic home environments.