Research

HUMAIN brings together researchers from four higher education institutions in Vaasa to explore how humans and intelligent technologies can work together in safe, meaningful, and sustainable way.

Working closely with industry, public organizations, and international partners, HUMAIN provides a unique environment where new ideas can be developed, tested, and evaluated before they are deployed in real-world settings.

Key themes:

  • Human-centered AI and robotics
  • Digital twins and simulation environments
  • Extended reality (XR) for training and collaboration
  • Ethical and sustainable AI development
  • Industry and public-sector use cases

Research areas

Our research focuses on the next generation of AI and robotics: humanoid robots, physical AI, extended reality (XR), digital twins, and intelligent systems that can understand and adapt to human needs. By combining expertise from technology, psychology, design, business, and engineering, we aim to ensure that future AI systems are not only capable, but also trustworthy, ethical, and beneficial to society.

Human-Centered AI and Robotics:

Understanding how people interact with intelligent systems and designing technologies that are trustworthy, understandable, and aligned with human values.

Physical AI and Humanoid Robots:

Developing embodied AI systems that can perceive, reason, and act in the physical world while collaborating safely with humans.

XR, Digital Twins and Simulation:

Using virtual and mixed reality environments to design, train, and evaluate AI systems before deployment in real-world environments.

Safety, Ethics and Sustainability:

Ensuring that future AI technologies are developed responsibly, transparently, and with consideration for environmental and societal impacts..

Industry 5.0 and Human–AI Collaboration:

Exploring how AI and robotics can augment human expertise, improve productivity, and support sustainable industrial development

Infrastructure development

During the first phase, HUMAIN establishes the infrastructure needed for future research. This includes creating advanced laboratory environments, evaluating emerging robotics platforms, expanding simulation capabilities, and developing common research methodologies across the consortium.

The second phase focuses on integrating new technologies and launching collaborative research projects. Researchers will begin developing and testing AI-driven robotic systems, virtual training environments, and new forms of human–AI interaction.

The final phase focuses on large-scale demonstrations, validation, and long-term research initiatives. HUMAIN will support new research projects, industrial collaborations, startup activities, and educational programs that help bring human-centered AI into practical use.

Infrastructure plans at each organization

Description of research and infrastructure plans at each partner (current and planned).

ÅAU – Experience Lab and IT • UVA – VME Lab ++ • Novia • VAMK

ÅAU – Experience Lab and IT

Åbo Akademi University is expanding the Experience Lab into an advanced research environment for human–AI interaction. New capabilities will include enhanced biometric sensing, mobile eye-tracking, high-speed networking, and local AI infrastructure for privacy-preserving processing and experimentation with large language models. The upgraded facilities will support research on how intelligent systems and social robots can understand and adapt to human behaviour, emotions, and physiological responses in both physical and virtual environments.

UVA – VME Lab ++

The University of Vaasa is developing new infrastructure that combines extended reality (XR), motion capture, digital twins, and humanoid robotics. The new facilities will enable simulation-based training, human–robot collaboration studies, and immersive virtual environments for industry and education. Investments in motion capture systems, additive manufacturing, and AI-enabled robotics platforms will create new opportunities to study how humans and intelligent systems can work together in future workplaces.

Novia

Novia is expanding its Intelligent Systems Show Case Room into an immersive environment for embodied AI, teleoperation, and human–AI interaction. Planned investments include advanced virtual reality systems with eye-tracking, haptic feedback technologies, motion simulation equipment, robotic teleoperation platforms, and local AI computing resources. The new infrastructure will enable research and development in areas such as immersive training, remote robotics, intelligent systems, and next-generation human–machine collaboration.

VAMK

Vaasa University of Applied Sciences is strengthening its robotics and smart manufacturing environments at Technobothnia and CoProtoLab. New investments include advanced visual, thermal, and acoustic sensoring technologies, intelligent robotic platforms, XR-based industrial training solutions, and digital manufacturing systems. The infrastructure will support research, innovation, and industry collaboration focused on human-centered automation, intelligent industrial robotics, and AI-assisted production systems.

List of research capabilities/methods:

  • iMotions biometric measurements – eyetracking, galvanic skin response; facial emotion recognition; heartrate
  • Firstbeat
  • Motion capture (coming soon)
  • Observation
  • Participatory design
  • Demonstrations
  • Virtual reality systems and environments

News

2nd HUMAIN Quarterly Meeting was about demos and ethics

On Thursday 11th of June, the HUMAIN team met onsite at Technobothnia, Vaasa for the project’s second quarterly meeting. We started with a photoshoot of the team members, then a practical tour to get familiarized with related AI, robotics, and XR technology.