Astrid M.L. Kappers

Astrid M.L. Kappers is a Full Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). She leads research on haptic perception, focusing on human interaction with devices and applications in robotics, prosthetics, and assistive technologies. Her interdisciplinary work bridges fundamental perception studies and applied engineering solutions. Previously, she held roles at Utrecht University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, becoming a Full Professor in 2005.

Education:

• PhD in Physics from TU/e (1987)
• Physics degree from Utrecht University

Research Interests: Haptic perception fundamentals, tactile communication, material discrimination, and intuitive interface design. Her work addresses perceptual inaccuracies in man-machine interactions to improve safety and efficiency.

Highlighted Contributions:

• Developed vibrotactile navigation devices for visually impaired users
• Explored tactile patterns for social communication in deafblind populations
• Recipient of the VICI Grant (2003) for haptic research

Academic Activities: Editorial roles at Acta Psychologica and IEEE Transactions on Haptics, keynotes on haptic perception, and supervision of 3 doctoral students.

Labs & Teams: Active in TU/e's Dynamics and Control, Control System Technology, and Human Technology Interaction groups, collaborating internationally on haptic technology applications.