Exoskeletons are mechatronic systems worn by a person in such a way that the physical interface permits a direct transfer of mechanical power and exchange of information. These robotic mechanisms have been applied in telemanipulation, man-amplifier, rehabilitation and to assist impaired human motor control. In addition, the neuromotor control research can benefit from anexoskeleton in order to manipulate human arm movements within its natural workspace, which is not possible with traditional robotic manipulandum because of its constraints. The aim of this paper is to describe a set of experiments in motor control and the application of powered upper limb exoskeleton in which the mechanical requirements of the movement will be modified, e.g. removal of the interaction torques in order to identify their impact on the production of complex coordination patterns in healthy subjects with the possibility for a future application to neurologically impaired subjects. As preliminary results, are shown responses to changes in viscosity and inertia when external perturbations (viscous load and inertia) are applied during execution of elbow angular cyclical movements using a robotic exoskeleton.

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The development of innovative exoskeletons for the upper limb requires a strong collaboration between robotics and neuroscience. The robotic system will be deeply coupled to the human user and the exoskeleton design should be based on the human model in terms of biomechanics, and control and learning strategies. This paper presents the preliminary results of the design process of the Neurobotics exoskeleton (NEUROexos). A bioinspired three joints-three links robotic arm is under development for implementing bioinspired control strategies and for obtaining a human-like robotic arm to be used for assessing active exoskeletons in fully safe conditions. In particular, this paper presents the shoulder joint-first link prototype, the selected actuation system, the actuator modelling and identification, and the experimental evaluation of the prototype capability to replicate the human shoulder kinematics during the execution of a catching task.

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Stroke forms one of the leading causes of death amongst adults in industrialized countries, and although survival rates are comparatively high in up to 1/3 of patients there is functional impairments (particularly in the upper limbs) that can persist even after rehabilitation training. Tasked based rehabilitation therapy (shaping) is a new approach that seems to offer good success compared to traditional methods, however, the technique requires very intensive and prolonged treatment. Robot mediated physiotherapy is the recent answer to the shortage of staff and the cost associated with this. In this paper a robotic approach to task based therapy is shown. The work focuses on how a robotic exoskeleton operating in a 3D volume can be used in conjunction with a Virtual Environment rehabilitation suite for training patients in relearning daily motor tasks. Salford RehabilitationExoskeleton (SRE) is used as an assistive device which helps individuals retrain in performing motor tasks by assisting them to complete therapy regimes. EMG recordings are used to show the capacity of the system to mediate the level of assistance provided from full assistance to zero aid.

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Профессор Гордон Бланн (Gordon Blunn) и доктор Кэтрин Пендеграсс (Catherine Pendegrass), а также их коллеги из центра биомедицинского инжиниринга университетского колледжа Лондона (UCL Centre for Bio-Medical Engineering) разработали новый тип соединения протезов и человеческой ткани, который позволяет присоединять различные устройства напрямую к кости человека без риска внесения инфекции.

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An apparatus and method for transferring energy from an internal combustion engine to drive a load. The system includes a rapid response component, a valve system and an actuator. The rapid response component is configured to be operatively coupled to a combustion portion of the internal combustion engine. The rapid response component is also configured to draw a portion of energy from the combustion in the internal combustion engine and transfer the portion of energy as a fluid including pulsitile fluid flow. The valve system is operatively coupled to the rapid response component and is operable to receive and controllably direct the pulsitile fluid flow from the rapid response component. The actuator is operatively coupled to the valve system and is configured to be operatively coupled to the load. The actuator operates to receive the fluid from the valve system to drive the load operatively coupled thereto.

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