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