Istvan Drotar

57211536085

Publications - 16

Effects of walking training with and without a robot and standard care on clinical and mobility outcomes: A randomized clinical trial in acute ischemic stroke patients

Tamás Haidegger Tibor Hortobágyi József Tollár Péter Prukner Istvan Drotar Bence Csutorás Nándor Prontvai Klaudia Széphelyi Blanka Törő Szilvia Kóra

Publication Name: Experimental Gerontology

Publication Date: 2025-10-15

Volume: 210

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Background: Stroke incidence rises with age. A stroke can severely affect walking ability, requiring therapy. Robot-assisted walking therapy (ROB) has been advocated as one form of walking rehabilitation in stroke patients. However, its comparative efficacy remains controversial and three-group comparisons are scant. We compared the effects of ROB, walking training therapy without a robot (WTT) and standard treatment therapy (STT) on clinical and mobility outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods: Individuals (n = 45, 71 % males, age 64.4y ±6.34), who have recently experienced an ischemic stroke, were randomized to ROB, WTT or STT. Clinical and mobility outcomes were assessed before and after each intervention (3 weeks, 5 sessions/week) and after 5 weeks of no-intervention follow-up. Results: Outcomes did not differ between groups at baseline (p > 0.05). Modified Rankin Scale (primary outcome), improved (p < 0.05) after ROB and WTT vs. STT. These improvements were retained relative to baseline (p < 0.05) after follow-up. Barthel index, Berg Balance Scale, 10-m walking speed, the distance while walking with and without the robot for six minutes, and center pressure velocity in standing improved most after ROB (all p < 0.001), exceeding the changes after WTT which in turn were greater than the changes after STT (p ≤ 0.040). Conclusion: Older adults shortly after an ischemic stroke can quickly learn to walk with a soft robot and retain substantial clinical and mobility improvements at follow-up.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2025.112882

Effectiveness of High-Intensity Therapy in Rehabilitation of Parkinson’s Disease Patients

József Tollár Péter Prukner Istvan Drotar Nándor Prontvai Szilvia Kóra Petra Kós György Wersényi

Publication Name: Applied Sciences Switzerland

Publication Date: 2025-06-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 11

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive movement disorder with no cure. In this randomized controlled study, 100 patients with PD were assigned to four intervention groups (Exergame, Cycling, Agility, and Robot) for 14 weeks. This study evaluates the effectiveness of high-intensity therapy in a randomized clinical trial. Exergaming, cycling, agility, and robot therapies improved motor function, postural stability, and cardiovascular health. Heart rate monitoring and Borg Scale ratings confirmed the safety and adaptability of high-intensity training, with patients sustaining moderate-to-high exertion without adverse effects. Significant improvements were observed in gait speed (+0.30–0.50 m/s), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) (+25–30 points), and Berg Balance Scale scores. Integrating high-intensity, functional movement-based therapies into PD rehabilitation may offer superior motor, gait, and cardiovascular benefits compared to conventional methods.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/app15115890

Comparison of Five Rehabilitation Interventions for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Trial

Tamás Haidegger Tibor Hortobágyi József Tollár Péter Prukner Tomas Vetrovsky Istvan Drotar Szilvia Kóra Petra Kós Zoltán Vadászi György Wersényi

Publication Name: Journal of Clinical Medicine

Publication Date: 2025-03-01

Volume: 14

Issue: 5

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Background: Comparative efficacy of rehabilitation interventions in persons with acute ischemic stroke (PwS) is limited. This randomized trial assessed the immediate and lasting effects of five interventions on clinical and mobility outcomes in 75 PwS. Methods: Five days after stroke, 75 PwS were randomized into five groups: physical therapy (CON, standard care, once daily); walking with a soft robotic exoskeleton (ROB, once daily); agility exergaming once (EXE1, once daily) or twice daily (EXE2, twice daily); and combined EXE1+ROB in two daily sessions. Interventions were performed 5 days per week for 3 weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and after 5 weeks of detraining. Results: Modified Rankin Scale (primary outcome) and Barthel Index showed no changes. EXE1, EXE2, ROB, and EXE1+ROB outperformed standard care (CON) in five secondary outcomes (Berg balance scale, 10m walking speed, 6-min walk test with/without robot, standing balance), with effects sustained after 5 weeks. Dose effects (EXE1 vs. EXE2) were minimal, while EXE1+ROB showed additive effects in 6-min walk tests. Conclusions: These novel comparative data expand evidence-based options for therapists to design individualized rehabilitation plans for PwS. Further confirmation is needed.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/jcm14051648

Investigation of the Effectiveness of the Robotic ReStore Soft Exoskeleton in the Development of Early Mobilization, Walking, and Coordination of Stroke Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Tamás Haidegger József Tollár Péter Prukner Istvan Drotar Nándor Prontvai Adrienn Bíró Klaudia Széphelyi Szilvia Kóra Mónika Androsics

Publication Name: Robotics

Publication Date: 2024-03-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 3

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Medical robotics nowadays can prevent, treat, or alleviate numerous severe conditions, including the dire consequences of stroke. Our objective was to determine the effect of employing a robotic soft exoskeleton in therapy on the development of the early mobilization, gait, and coordination in stroke patients. The ReStore™ Soft Exo-Suit, a wearable exosuit developed by a leading company with exoskeleton technology, was utilized. It is a powered, lightweight device intended for use in stroke rehabilitation for people with lower limb disability. We performed a randomized clinical intervention, using a before–after trial design in a university hospital setting. A total of 48 patients with a history of stroke were included, of whom 39 were randomized and 30 completed the study. Interventions: Barthel Index and modified Rankin scale (mRS) patients were randomly assigned to a non-physical intervention control (n = 9 of 39 completed, 30 withdrew before baseline testing), or to a high-intensity agility program (15 sessions, 5 weeks, n = 30 completed). The main focus of assessment was on the Modified Rankin Scale. Additionally, we evaluated secondary factors including daily life functionality, five dimensions of health-related quality of life, the Beck depression inventory, the 6 min walk test (6MWT), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and static balance (center of pressure). The Robot-Assisted Gait Therapy (ROB/RAGT) program led to significant improvements across various measures, including a 37% improvement in Barthel Index scores, a 56% increase in 10 m walking speed, and a 68% improvement in 6 min walking distance, as well as notable enhancements in balance and stability. Additionally, the intervention group demonstrated significant gains in all these aspects compared to the control group. In conclusion, the use of robotic therapy can be beneficial in stroke rehabilitation. These devices support the restoration and improvement of movement in various ways and contribute to restoring balance and stability.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/robotics13030044

Digital innovation in family businesses in the post-pandemic period: A case study

Jaroslaw Korpysa Hasan Tutar Istvan Drotar Selçuk Nam

Publication Name: Journal of International Studies

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 17

Issue: 2

Page Range: 100-117

Description:

Businesses must develop appropriate organizational structures and working models to reduce costs and increase profitability. Under the conditions of rapid change, innovation and creativity are critical for business success. Traditional hierarchical and rigid organizational structures are unsuitable for the flexible working conditions of the post-pandemic period and need to be revised to adapt to newly created requirements. This study aims to answer the fundamental question of the importance of digital innovation for businesses in the postpandemic period. A qualitative research method was the basis for this case study. Data were collected from 15 family business managers operating in Sakarya (Turkey) through semi-structured interviews. The collected data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis technique in the MAXQDA program. According to research findings, developing new organizational structures and business models based on digital innovation is necessary to ensure sustainability and cope with uncertainty in family businesses. This also supports the notion that organizational structures should adhere to organic and flexible arrangements and move away from rigid and mechanical systems.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.14254/2071-8330.2024/17-2/5

Oceania’s 5G Multi-Tier Fixed Wireless Access Link’s Long-Term Resilience and Feasibility Analysis

Satyanand Singh Joanna Rosak-Szyrocka Istvan Drotar Xavier Fernando

Publication Name: Future Internet

Publication Date: 2023-10-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 10

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Information and communications technologies play a vital role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and bridging the gap between developed and developing countries. However, various socioeconomic factors adversely impact the deployment of digital infrastructure, such as 5G networks, in the countries of Oceania. The high-speed broadband fifth-generation cellular network (5G) will improve the quality of service for growing mobile users and the massive Internet of Things (IoT). It will also provide ultra-low-latency services required by smart city applications. This study investigates the planning process for a 5G radio access network incorporating sub-6 GHz macro-remote radio units (MRRUs) and mmWave micro-remote radio units (mRRUs). We carefully define an optimization problem for 5G network planning, considering the characteristics of urban macro-cells (UMa) and urban micro-cells (UMi) with appropriate channel models and link budgets. We determine the minimum number of MRRUs and mRRUs that can be installed in each area while meeting coverage and user traffic requirements. This will ensure adequate broadband low-latency network coverage with micro-cells instead of macro-cells. This study evaluates the technical feasibility analysis of combining terrestrial and airborne networks to provide 5G coverage in Oceania, with a special emphasis on Fiji.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/fi15100334

Stability focused evaluation and tuning of special ground vehicle tracking algorithms

Antal Hiba Ádám Kisari Mihály Nagy Istvan Drotar Erno Simonyi Péter Bauer Gergely Istvan Kuna

Publication Name: IFAC Papersonline

Publication Date: 2023-07-01

Volume: 56

Issue: 2

Page Range: 9282-9287

Description:

This paper deals with a special tracking problem when a ground vehicle should be tracked by a multicopter flying ahead of the vehicle. Pre-designed vehicle route is assumed and the UAV stops or slows down at every intersection to react to route changes. After introducing the problem, the methods applied in a real flight demonstration in the Smart City module of ZalaZONE proving ground are presented. Then new methods are introduced to possibly improve performance. The main focus of the article is the evaluation of the stability of the methods and the provision of tuning guidelines. All of the introduced methods is tuned based-on the guidelines considering real ground vehicle test data and the high fidelity simulation of the applied multicopter. The two best methods are compared in detail and guidelines of their applicability are provided.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2023.10.212

Encounter Risk Evaluation with a Forerunner UAV

Antal Hiba Ádám Kisari Mihály Nagy Istvan Drotar Erno Simonyi Péter Bauer Gergely Istvan Kuna Ákos Zarándy

Publication Name: Remote Sensing

Publication Date: 2023-03-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 6

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Forerunner UAV refers to an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a downward-looking camera flying in front of the advancing emergency ground vehicles (EGV) to notify the driver about the hidden dangers (e.g., other vehicles). A feasibility demonstration in an urban environment having a multicopter as the forerunner UAV and two cars as the emergency and dangerous ground vehicles was done in ZalaZONE Proving Ground, Hungary. After the description of system hardware and software components, test scenarios, object detection and tracking, the main contribution of the paper is the development and evaluation of encounter risk decision methods. First, the basic collision risk evaluation applied in the demonstration is summarized, then the detailed development of an improved method is presented. It starts with the comparison of different velocity and acceleration estimation methods. Then, vehicle motion prediction is conducted, considering estimated data and its uncertainty. The prediction time horizon is determined based on actual EGV speed and so braking time. If the predicted trajectories intersect, then the EGV driver is notified about the danger. Some special relations between EGV and the other vehicle are also handled. Tuning and comparison of basic and improved methods is done based on real data from the demonstration. The improved method can notify the driver longer, identify special relations between the vehicles and it is adaptive considering actual EGV speed and EGV braking characteristics; therefore, it is selected for future application.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/rs15061512

Energy Management Systems in Smart Cities: A Review from the Perspective of Complex Networks Design

Lukács Balázs Jean Pimentel Istvan Drotar

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 679-684

Description:

Smart cities are a very promising concept for achieving the sustainability of urban settlements. This is especially true for sustainability related to general aspects of energy management, e.g., generation, transformation, distribution, and storage. Despite their considerable potential, smart cities are complex systems in nature, as numerous individuals and subsystems participate in their performance. Because of this complexity, numerous challenges are presented for the conception of this type of system, i.e., during its design stage. The contribution provides a brief literature review that focuses on energy management in smart cities. Initially, an overview of the field is provided by analyzing the co-occurrence of keywords in the literature available in the SCOPUS database. Subsequently, strategies for energy management in smart cities, modeling approaches, and challenges and opportunities are discussed. For this, the work refers to earlier literature reviews that describe in detail relevant subjects from the perspective of networks design and optimization. The review aims at helping interested readers recognize the systematic tools available for the design of energy systems as well as the challenges offered in this rapidly evolving area, thereby contributing to the advancement of sustainable and efficient energy solutions within the context of urban environments.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107114

Telerehabilitation After Brain Injuries: Its Efficacy and Role in Reducing Healthcare Burdens

Tamás Haidegger József Tollár Péter Prukner Istvan Drotar Nándor Prontvai Blanka Törő Szilvia Kóra Petra Kós György Wersényi

Publication Name: Acta Polytechnica Hungarica

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 20

Issue: 8

Page Range: 305-320

Description:

Rehabilitation following brain injuries, such as stroke and other traumatic injuries, presents significant challenges for both patients and healthcare systems. Traditional in-person rehabilitation often requires regular visits to specialized facilities, which can be difficult for patients in remote areas or those with mobility and financial constraints. Telerehabilitation offers a promising solution by enabling patients to continue essential therapy at home, ensuring continuity of care while reducing the burden on healthcare providers. It can be effectively applied across various patient groups, including children, adults, the elderly, amputees, individuals with traumatic neurological injuries, and those with neurocognitive impairments such as dementia. Our telemedicine platform integrates advanced technologies, i.e., 3D motion analysis and Virtual Reality (VR) to enhance home-based physiotherapy. These tools enable precise monitoring, real-time feedback, and immersive therapy sessions, in order to improve coordination, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and the vestibular system, which is crucial for balance. This platform also performs detailed offline data analysis, allowing healthcare professionals to adjust therapy plans based on individual needs. As the demand for rehabilitation services continues to grow, adopting these technologies will be crucial for sustainable, effective healthcare, ultimately improving patient outcomes and shaping a more efficient and equitable future for healthcare systems.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.12700/APH.20.8.2023.8.16

Virtual Reality in Cerebrovascular Rehabilitation: A Mini Review on Clinical Efficacy and Neurological Impacts

Tamás Haidegger József Tollár Péter Prukner Istvan Drotar Nándor Prontvai Blanka Törő Szilvia Kóra Petra Kós György Wersényi

Publication Name: Acta Polytechnica Hungarica

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 20

Issue: 8

Page Range: 321-336

Description:

The application of virtual reality (VR) technology in both upper and lower limb rehabilitation represents a significant advancement in the field of medicine. VR-based therapies provide patients with the opportunity to engage in intensive, repetitive, and targeted exercises that promote neuroplasticity and improve the motor skills necessary for daily life. VR has long been recommended for the rehabilitation of conditions such as in case of ischemic stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, further underscoring its versatility and therapeutic potential. In our study, we evaluated the effectiveness of VR therapy focusing on stroke rehabilitation. The reviewed VR systems provided motion analysis, tracking, feedback reinforcement, and realistic environments to facilitate the restoration of motor functions. Furthermore, we developed a VR-based therapy aimed at both upper and lower limb motor functions, combined with traditional rehabilitation. The application of VR technology not only promotes the improvement of motor functions but also offers economic advantages by reducing the burden on healthcare workers and increasing rehabilitation capacity. Further research is needed to determine the optimal conditions for applying VR therapy in clinical practice.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.12700/APH.20.8.2023.8.17

Software-in-the-loop simulation of the forerunner UAV system

Antal Hiba Ádám Kisari Mihály Nagy Istvan Drotar Erno Simonyi Péter Bauer Gergely Istvan Kuna

Publication Name: IFAC Papersonline

Publication Date: 2022-07-01

Volume: 55

Issue: 14

Page Range: 139-144

Description:

The forerunner UAV means a camera equipped drone flying in front of the advancing first responder units to increase driver situational awareness with an aerial view of the traffic situation and notification about imminent dangers. This article presents the software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulation of the concept including UNREAL4-Carla as the virtual reality environment with a firetruck driven through a game controller, the Matlab simulation of the DJI M600 forerunner hexacopter with UDP communication between firetruck and M600 and the real-time AI processing of synthetic images to detect ground vehicles and pedestrians. The target of SIL development is threefold. First, to test M600 autopilot and Al-based object detection in close to realistic conditions before the real flights. Second, to make an exhaustive feasibility study of the whole forerunner concept with several simulated situations. Third, to generate the required large amount of image data for AI object detection tuning. After introducing all parts of the SIL simulation the article presents an illustrative example evaluating the tracking of the ground vehicle with the M600 and the inference system results.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2022.07.596

Technical Feasibility and Design Challenges of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle based Drive Testing on Cellular Networks

Oliver Takacs Istvan Drotar Tamas Kovacs György Wersényi

Publication Name: 2022 IEEE 1st International Conference on Internet of Digital Reality Iod 2022

Publication Date: 2022-01-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 23-32

Description:

Conventional drones are using ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) frequency bands during operation that can limit the range of the device. Limitations depend on the applied technologies in these frequency bands. With the help of cellular networks, BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) UAV operations can be realized with increased safety. Unfortunately, base stations used in cellular networks target the lower, near-earth layers of air space. In case of drones, coverage in higher layers must be planned. Test procedures used in residential mobile network measurements record the quality parameters of the network measured on foot or by vehicle. Furthermore, the device carrying the measurement setup can cause serious interference with the measurement results. This paper presents current measurement methods and a concept for a solution to apply the measurement devices to an UAV. This new measurement method is correspondingly fit in the conception of IoD conference. We are executed the measurements by our own newly developed UAV system which can be a substitute solution of the walking measurements. Furthermore it provides opportunity to measurement some of that new layers of the air that have not had a chance before. Also, this innovation gives us the opportunity to perform measurements that have been difficult and dangerous so far, much easier and safer than before, without the need for human contact. In addition, measurements with drones have given a new perspective to the world of measurement methods.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/IoD55468.2022.9987208

The Forerunner UAV Concept for the Increased Safety of First Responders

Antal Hiba Ádám Kisari Mihály Nagy Istvan Drotar Attila Gáti Péter Bauer Balázs Lattes

Publication Name: International Conference on Vehicle Technology and Intelligent Transport Systems Vehits Proceedings

Publication Date: 2021-01-01

Volume: 2021-April

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 362-369

Description:

This paper proposes a novel Forerunner UAV concept to increase the safety of first responders by monitoring the road in front of their emergency ground vehicle (EGV) and notifying the driver about any violation of his/her right of way or approaching danger. The developments are conducted in an R&D project in Hungary. The proposed UAV for the planned urban demonstration is a hexacopter with triple redundant architecture applying a gimbaled camera to monitor the surroundings. In the cooperative control of the EGV and UAV the UAV must fly in front of the EGV which is possible through wireless communication of route data and velocity. Besides the real system a computer simulation representation is also applied including CARLA and Matlab to make exhaustive tests of the system capabilities. Increased attention is devoted to the possible wireless communication solutions as these are safety critical parts of the system. The article ends with the lists of planned simulation and real test scenarios to evaluate the system.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: DOI not available

Characterisation and Modelling of Ultrashort Laser-Driven Electromagnetic Pulses

Christos Kamperidis Luca Volpe Massimo De Marco Valeria Ospina Mate Liszi Istvan Drotar Kwinten Nelissen Giancarlo Gatti

Publication Name: Scientific Reports

Publication Date: 2020-12-01

Volume: 10

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Recent advances on laser technology have enabled the generation of ultrashort (fs) high power (PW) laser systems. For such large scale laser facilities there is an imperative demand for high repetition rate operation in symbiosis with beamlines or end-stations. In such extreme conditions the generation of electromagnetic pulses (EMP) during high intense laser target interaction experiments can tip the scale for the good outcome of the campaign. The EMP effects are several including interference with diagnostic devices and actuators as well as damage of electrical components. The EMP issue is quite known in the picosecond (ps) pulse laser experiments but no systematic study on EMP issues at multi-Joule fs-class lasers has been conducted thus far. In this paper we report the first experimental campaign for EMP-measurements performed at the 200 TW laser system (VEGA 2) at CLPU laser center. EMP pulse energy has been measured as a function of the laser intensity and energy together with other relevant quantities such as (i) the charge of the laser-driven protons and their maximum energy, as well as (ii) the X-ray Kα emission coming from electron interaction inside the target. Analysis of experimental results demonstrate (and confirm) a direct correlation between the measured EMP pulse energy and the laser parameters such as laser intensity and laser energy in the ultrashort pulse duration regime. Numerical FEM (Finite Element Method) simulations of the EMP generated by the target holder system have been performed and the simulations results are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental ones.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59882-8

Propagation of Laser-Driven Electromagnetic Pulses in Laser Target Areas

Christos Kamperidis Luca Volpe Massimo De Marco Mate Liszi Istvan Drotar Kwinten Nelissen Giancarlo Gatti

Publication Name: EMC Europe 2019 2019 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility

Publication Date: 2019-09-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 802-806

Description:

During high intense laser target interaction a strong electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is generated which can potentially disturb the well performing of the experiment. The electromagnetic interference (EMI) due to the EMP not only affects devices present in the vacuum chamber but also in the target area where it may compromise the performance or operation of electronics and device controllers.In this work we report the measurements of EMP inside the laser target area at Centro de Laseres Pulsados (CLPU) during high intense laser-target interaction experiments. The experimental results show how the amplitude and spectrum of the EMP in the target area is different from the one inside the target chamber (TC). At last Finite element method (FEM) simulation results are shown and compared with experimental results.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/EMCEurope.2019.8871958