POLAR
We design robots, wearables, and biomechatronic systems that help people relearn, restore, and augment human movement — advancing mobility through innovation in medical robotics.
Engineering movement back into people’s lives.
POLAR is a research laboratory at Polytechnique Montréal, led by Prof. Abolfazl Mohebbi and home to the iTMT Research Chair in Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies.
We develop robotics and biomechatronics — from rehabilitation robots and haptic interfaces to smart wearables and EMG-driven assistive devices — for people living with stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and other motor conditions. Our work spans the full path from fundamental neuromuscular science to devices tested with patients and clinicians.
More about the labFour directions, one mission.
Our projects cluster into four connected themes — from what people wear to the robots and science behind their recovery.
Wearables & Prosthetics
Body-worn sensing and actuation — smart insoles, exo-devices, and prosthetic interfaces that measure movement and give support where people need it most.
8 projects
Rehabilitation Robots
Robotic and haptic platforms that guide, resist, and adapt to a patient’s effort — retraining reaching, grasping, and gait through precise, repeatable therapy.
4 projects
Neuromuscular Control
Understanding how the nervous system drives movement — combining biomechanics, EMG, and modelling to decode and restore neuromotor control.
3 projects
Assistive Technologies
Human-centred devices that extend independence in daily life — from EMG-driven assistive robots to tools co-designed with patients and clinicians.
2 projectsSelected work from the lab.
EMG HAND GESTURE Deep-learning recognition of hand gestures from EMG signals for assistive robots.
Assistive Technologies View project
HAPTIC3D A reproducible, affordable 3-DOF haptic robot for pediatric upper-limb rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation Robots View project
INSTRUMENTED INSOLE A low-cost instrumented insole that reads gait in real time to help control lower-limb exoskeletons.
Wearables & Prosthetics View project
OPEN-ARMS An open-source, lightweight pediatric arm exoskeleton offering assist-as-needed shoulder and elbow support.
Wearables & Prosthetics View project
POSTURAL CONTROL VISION Modelling how vision drives human balance using VR perturbations and system identification.
Neuromuscular Control View project
ROBOREHAB-6D Adaptive assist-as-needed control that tailors robotic upper-limb therapy to each patient’s effort.
Rehabilitation Robots View projectPatients and clinicians at the heart of innovation.
We build with the people we build for. Working alongside CHU Sainte-Justine and clinical partners, POLAR embeds patients and health professionals directly in the design process — so our technologies are grounded in real needs and everyday life.
How we work- 01 Listen to patients & clinicians
- 02 Co-design & prototype
- 03 Test in real settings
- 04 Refine & translate
Working across research and care.
Interested in joining POLAR?
We’re always looking for curious students and collaborators in robotics, biomechatronics, and rehabilitation engineering.