Eray A. Baran joins us as a visiting Professor from Istanbul Bilgi University, where he serves as Assistant Professor in Mechatronics Engineering and leads the Robotics and Intelligent Motion Control Laboratory. He will be with us from September 2025 to August 2026, collaborating with Associate Professor Ayse Kucukyilmaz on research exploring physical (kinesthetic) human–robot and robot–environment interaction modalities.

Eray’s research lies at the intersection of robotics, motion control, and human–robot interaction, focusing on how robots can sense and respond to physical contact in dynamic and uncertain environments. His work spans force and impedance control, bilateral teleoperation, and soft actuation systems, aiming to create robots capable of safe, adaptive, and intuitive cooperation with humans.

At the Mixed Reality Lab, his visit will centre on investigating kinesthetic interaction frameworks that integrate force-based control strategies with embodied human feedback. This collaboration seeks to deepen our understanding of how robots can share physical spaces with people – moving beyond purely autonomous operation toward genuinely responsive and cooperative interaction.

Before joining the University of Nottingham, Eray led a series of academic and industrial research projects on motion control and soft robotics, working closely with partners in both academia and industry to translate theoretical advances into practical robotic systems. His ongoing collaboration with the lab reflects a shared interest in bridging engineering control principles and human-centred robotic interaction design.