Rapidly Customizable Hand Exoskeleton

Thomas Burton/Thomas Martineau

This project is investigating the use of robots for upper limb rehabilitation.  Specifically, it is exploring issues related to robotic rehabilitation for hand motor (grasping) function in patients suffering from neurological disorders (e.g. stroke).  We are exploring biomechanical robot design based on anatomy of the hand, compliant (muscle-like) actuation for robotic rehabilitation mechanisms, adaptive control to augment neural learning, and robot autonomy for use outside of controlled (hospital/therapist) environs. The current prototype has been parametrically designed to enable rapid prototyping to be personalized to any patient and allows a greater degree of movement in the thumb for critical grasping tasks. The overall aim is to produce a more “hand-like” robot in terms of mechanical design (degrees-of-freedom), passive compliance, and neural control to aid in rehabilitation and hand motion assist.

 

Biomechatronic Hand Assist Mechanism: Hand motion modelling and control, design and simulation, and photos of the current prototype

Co-Investigators

Professor Stuart Burgess, Professor of Engineering Design, University of Bristol, UK

Dr Ailie Turton, Senior Lecturer, Occupational Therapy, University of West England (UWE), UK

Professor Chris Melhuish, Director, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of Bristol and University of West England, UK

Sponsors

UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

University of West England Department of Occupational Therapy

Multimedia

 

Biomechatronic Hand Assist Mechanism: Hand motion modelling and control, design and simulation, and photos of the current prototype

(https://youtu.be/HTXkbloBxGQ)

Intelligent Learning Control: Simulation reusults of a learning controller adjusting force to grasping an object

(https://youtu.be/Pm4Oa-srbgA)