Sensory Feedback for Smart Prosthetics

Though mechanical aspects of prosthesis technology are rapidly advancing, these devices lack a sense of touch required for providing feedback when completing different tasks. We aim to address this concern by developing non-invasive technologies to provide missing touch sensations in prosthetic limbs via sensory substitution with modular add-on devices separate from the prosthesis. 

Lower Limb: 

Sensory Feedback for Smart Prosthetics

Technology for upper-limb prostheses is rapidly advancing, to the point where multi-articulated myoelectic prosthetic arms capable of complex movement are commercially available. However, these devices still lack the touch feedback needed for dexterous manipulation. We aim to address this concern by developing non-invasive technology to replace missing touch sensations in prosthetic limbs via sensory substitution. Most current sensory substitution devices function as modular add-on devices, separate from the prosthesis.

Sensory Feedback for Smart Prosthetics

Researchers aim for 'direct brain control' of prosthetic arms Engineers work to design prosthetic arm that allows amputees to feel what they touch http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=15983&SnID=1928481914 Engineering researchers at four U.S. universities are embarking on a four-year project to design a prosthetic arm that amputees can control directly with their brains and that will allow them to feel what they touch. While it may sound like science fiction, the researchers say much of the technology has already been proven in small-scale demonstrations. The research at Rice University, the University of Michigan, Drexel University and the University of Maryland is made possible by a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation's Human-Centered Computing program.

Mirror Tracing: A Proxy to Endovascular Surgery

The mirror tracing task is an adaptation of Snoddy’s (1920) original experiment, designed to study the impact of real-time haptic feedback on the learning and performance of a complex motor task.

Human Motion Assessment for Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is important to reduce impairment and restore quality of life  in individuals with long-term disability such as stroke. Objective assessments of motor capacity and performance are useful tools to assess motor recovery and determine therapy protocols that have the potential to promote rehabilitation. However, traditional clinical assessments can be prohibitively lengthy for outpatient use, subjective, and often only measure capacity for activity which does not necessarily correlate with functional recovery.

Device Characterization Through Perception

Haptic technologies are expanding in capabilities, but how do we know if these capabilities are actually usefully perceivable for users? Psychophysics bridges that gap by quantifying the perception of stimuli in relation to their physical characteristics. In terms of discrimination tasks, we've conducted experiments to understand the point at which signals of different frequencies are equivalent for frequency-dependent vibrotactors and the ability to discern between locations of vibrotactile cues on the hip during standing or walking tasks.