Post on 31-Mar-2015
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EUROPEAN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH THEMES
Rachel Cowan, Dave Reinkensmeyer, Mary Rodgers
Overview
Define Assistive Technology
European Assistive Technology Research
Research Gaps, Challenges & Opportunities
Assistive Technology Defined
Assistive Technology (AT) Defined
Cook & Hussy, 2002“…devices, services, strategies, and practices
that …ameliorate the problems faced by individuals with disabilities.”
Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (PL 100-407)"...products, devices or equipment,
. . . that maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities..."
What do these devices have in common? --- Assistive Technology?
Technology Approaches to Improve Mobility
Repair body structure/function Limb regeneration Combination therapies
Rehabilitate the body structure/function Enhanced Therapeutic robotics
Technology Approaches to Improve Mobility
Replace missing/impaired body structures/functions Prosthetics Wheelchairs Exoskeletons
Augment/Support impaired body/functions Crutches, canes Exoskeletons Hearing Aids Neuroprosthesis Shared Control Systems (Human – Device)
Assistive vs. RehabilitativeTechnology
Assistive Helps person execute a functional activity
in daily life User operated
Rehabilitative/Therapeutic One modality in an overall rehabilitation
plan Not intended for use in daily activities Clinician operated
European Assistive Technology Research Themes
European AT Research Themes
1. Assistive Technology Control
2. Assistive Technology Device Refinement
3. Humanoid Robotics as Assistive Technology?
AT Control Research
INSTITUT FOR SUNDHEDSVIDENSKAB OG TEKNOLOGIAALBORG UNIVERSITYAALBORG, DENMARK
DEPT. OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Communikation and prosthesis control for disabled – Tongue Control
Research collaboration and Spinn-out
• Invisible• Hands-off• Mobile• Wireless• Day and night use• All round
AMYOAdvanced Myoelectric Control of Prosthetic Systems
Control of Otto Bock Michelangelo Hand
-Interface with peripheral nerve-Auto-selection of appropriate grip
Long-term objective:
Develop a closed-loop control
system for >2 DOF prosthetic
hand devices (Otto Bock, DE)
based on efferent signal
recordings from peripheral nerve
using intrafasiscular electrodes
Professor Robert Reiner (Zurich)
Institut für Automatik (ETH)Sensory Motor Systems LaboratoryZurich, Switzerland
Compensatory Limb Motion Estimation
Powered Knee Control
Estimate movement of missing limb from healthy leg
Allows stair ascent with leading leg
ACTIVE ASSISTIVE DEVICES
Hans Rietman, PhD, Enschede
Assistive
Intelligent Knee Prosthesis
Problem: Swing phase control of artificial knees is too weak and too stiff.
Solution: microprocessor controlled knee with adaptive compensation.
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Next step: Reflexive control integrated with physiological motor control.
Main goal: A knee prosthesis with energy storage/transfer and controllable stiffness/torque.
Myoelectric Forearm Prosthesis Problem: Limited use clinically due to lack of adequate
control and lack of sensory feedback.
Solution: Use grid of 40 surface EMG electrodes to map muscle activity on residual stump to 10 prosthesis movements using 5 degrees of freedom.
Next step: Provide sensory information via vibrotactile feedback.
ROBOTIC WHEELCHAIR ASSISTANT – PROF. ETIENNE BURDET, IMPERIAL COLLEGE
Shared Control of Assistive Technology
A core need is an intelligent sharing of control between user and device
Wheelchair programmed to follow specific paths -assumes static environment
User can deviate when needed Allows response to dynamic conditions
Illustrates trend toward incorporation of sensors on assistive technology, to make the technology intelligent
AT Device Refinement
Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Multiple degree of freedom robotic hand
Incorporated touch sensation
Interfaced with Peripheral Nerve
Delft University of TechnologyDelft, The Netherlands
Underactuated Hand
•1 low power motor
•1 sensor
Why are Humanoid Robotics Pursued?A humanoid Robot will fit everywhere a human fit (prof. Inoue,
Japan)
Meanwhile, spin off will bring us to machines adapted to humans
Humanoid Robotics as Assistive Technology?
DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYProf.dr.ir. Pieter P. Jonker (Enschede)
Humanoid Robotics Development - Discovery purposes
Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Assistive, interactive robotics in home environment
Emotions, responsive
COMPANIONABLE PROJECT
Assistive Technology to Improve Mobility
Research Gaps, Challenges & Opportunities
Gaps – Challenges - Opportunities
Assistive Technology draws heavily from multiple fields
Thus limited (or facilitated) by existing technology and existing knowledge
Assistive technology improvements will occur only if the source technology and knowledge improve
What do these devices have in common? --- Assistive Technology?
Questions, Comments, Thoughts