This paper introduces a compact, wireless, wearable system that measures signals indicative of forces, torques and other descriptive and evaluative features that the human body undergoes during bursts of extreme physical activity (such as during athletic perfor-mance). Standard approaches leverage highspeed camera systems, which need significant infrastructure and provide limited update rates and dynamic accuracy. This project uses 6 degree-offreedom inertial measure-ment units worn on various segments of an athlete’s body to directly make these dynamic measurements. A combination of low and high range sensors enables sensitivity for both slow and fast motion, and the ad-dition of a compass helps in tracking joint angles. Data from the battery-powered nodes is acquired using a custom wireless protocol over an RF link and analyzed offline. Several professional pitchers and batters were instrumented with the system and data was gathered over many pitches and swings. We show some biome-chanically descriptive parameters extracted from this data, and highlight ongoing work and system impro-vements.

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Категория: Научные статьи | 7 комментариев »

Буквально на днях большинство IT-изданий планеты облетела сенсационная новость: оказывается, компания Intel является одним из разработчиков «мозговых сенсоров» для непосредственного — что называется, силой мысли — управления всевозможной электроникой.

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Категория: Управление | Нет комментариев »

After neurological injury such as stroke, upper limb paresis and loss of hand function leads to lower activity of the paretic limb and loss of independence. The strength of the paretic upper limb is strongly related to measures of activity. Robot-assisted therapy, along with augmented reality leads to increased motivation to perform exercises and improvements in motor function, but costs are high so clinical uptake is rare. A device was developed to allow a computer to control the exercise effort for a table-top, augmented reality therapy based on a computerised arm-rehabilitation skate. Various methods of applying and controlling the therapeutic exercise effort have been evaluated in designing the device, which should be portable and suitable for home based use. A vision based motion tracking system captures the movement of the device, so a computer can be used to monitor and control the exercise effort. The novel design of the rehabilitation system allows computer controlled resistance to movement, as well as integration with exercise stimulating games and windows-based tasks. This provides the patient with a home-based exercise platform which provides stimulating experience in his/her physiotherapy.

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Категория: Научные статьи | Нет комментариев »

Force sensing is an essential requirement for dexterous robot manipulation. We describe composite robot end-effectors that incorporate optical fibers for accurate force sensing and estimation of contact locations. The design is inspired by the sensors in arthropod exoskeletons that allow them to detect contacts and loads on their limbs. In this paper, we present a fabrication process that allows us to create hollow multimaterial structures with embedded fibers and the results of experiments to characterize the sensors and controlling contact forces in a system involving an industrial robot and a two-fingered dexterous hand. We also briefly describe the optical-interrogation method used to measure multiple sensors along a single fiber at kilohertz rates for closed-loop force control.

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Категория: Научные статьи | Нет комментариев »

NASA намерена интегрировать в перчатки космических скафандров тактильную обратную связь с вибрационным эффектом и акселерометрами, которые позволят «писать» текст, не касаясь какой-либо поверхности.

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Категория: Амуниция | Нет комментариев »