scholarly journals Electrode-free visual prosthesis/exoskeleton control using augmented reality glasses in a first proof-of-technical-concept study

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Hazubski ◽  
Harald Hoppe ◽  
Andreas Otte

Abstract In the field of neuroprosthetics, the current state-of-the-art method involves controlling the prosthesis with electromyography (EMG) or electrooculography/electroencephalography (EOG/EEG). However, these systems are both expensive and time consuming to calibrate, susceptible to interference, and require a lengthy learning phase by the patient. Therefore, it is an open challenge to design more robust systems that are suitable for everyday use and meet the needs of patients. In this paper, we present a new concept of complete visual control for a prosthesis, an exoskeleton or another end effector using augmented reality (AR) glasses presented for the first time in a proof-of-concept study. By using AR glasses equipped with a monocular camera, a marker attached to the prosthesis is tracked. Minimal relative movements of the head with respect to the prosthesis are registered by tracking and used for control. Two possible control mechanisms including visual feedback are presented and implemented for both a motorized hand orthosis and a motorized hand prosthesis. Since the grasping process is mainly controlled by vision, the proposed approach appears to be natural and intuitive.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreeya Sriram ◽  
Shitij Avlani ◽  
Matthew P. Ward ◽  
Shreyas Sen

AbstractContinuous multi-channel monitoring of biopotential signals is vital in understanding the body as a whole, facilitating accurate models and predictions in neural research. The current state of the art in wireless technologies for untethered biopotential recordings rely on radiative electromagnetic (EM) fields. In such transmissions, only a small fraction of this energy is received since the EM fields are widely radiated resulting in lossy inefficient systems. Using the body as a communication medium (similar to a ’wire’) allows for the containment of the energy within the body, yielding order(s) of magnitude lower energy than radiative EM communication. In this work, we introduce Animal Body Communication (ABC), which utilizes the concept of using the body as a medium into the domain of untethered animal biopotential recording. This work, for the first time, develops the theory and models for animal body communication circuitry and channel loss. Using this theoretical model, a sub-inch$$^3$$ 3 [1″ × 1″ × 0.4″], custom-designed sensor node is built using off the shelf components which is capable of sensing and transmitting biopotential signals, through the body of the rat at significantly lower powers compared to traditional wireless transmissions. In-vivo experimental analysis proves that ABC successfully transmits acquired electrocardiogram (EKG) signals through the body with correlation $$>99\%$$ > 99 % when compared to traditional wireless communication modalities, with a 50$$\times$$ × reduction in power consumption.


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.H. van Duren ◽  
K. Sugand ◽  
R. Wescott ◽  
R. Carrington ◽  
A. Hart

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Styliani Papatzani ◽  
Kevin Paine

In an effort to produce cost-effective and environmentally friendly cementitious binders. mainly ternary (Portland cement + limestone + pozzolanas) formulations have been investigated so far. Various proportions of constituents have been suggested, all, however, employing typical Portland cement (PC) substitution rates, as prescribed by the current codes. With the current paper a step by step methodology on developing low carbon footprint binary, ternary and quaternary cementitious binders is presented (PC replacement up to 57%). Best performing binary (60% PC and 40% LS (limestone)) and ternary formulations (60% PC, 20% LS, 20% FA (fly ash) or 43% PC, 20% LS 37% FA) were selected on the grounds of sustainability and strength development and were further optimized with the addition of silica fume. For the first time a protocol for successfully selecting and testing binders was discussed and the combined effect of highly pozzolanic constituents in low PC content formulations was assessed and a number of successful matrices were recommended. The present paper enriched the current state of the art in composite low carbon footprint cementitious binders and can serve as a basis for further enhancements by other researchers in the field.


i-com ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Fröhlich ◽  
Raimund Schatz ◽  
Markus Buchta ◽  
Johann Schrammel ◽  
Stefan Suette ◽  
...  

Abstract Autonomous buses are expected to become a cornerstone of future mobility systems. Especially during their introduction, passengers may require reassurance about the vehicle’s awareness of the situation on the road and of its intended next actions to further acceptance. In order to investigate the need and requirements for information about the vehicle’s awareness and intent from the perspective of first-time users, we conducted two user studies in a state-of-the-art autonomous bus at public demonstration spaces. In the first study, participants underwent a demonstration ride with the bus and were then asked about their needs for awareness and intent communication. The second study took participants on a ‘simulated ride’ within a stationary bus, in which typical scenarios of the road ahead were presented, together with different awareness and intent cues. Our results suggest that, first, future autonomous bus passengers may be in need of such awareness and intent communication screens. Second, we found that awareness and intent communication may be of greater importance for the indication of potential hazard recognition than for indicating route directions. Third, due to their complementary strengths, none of the three compared types of visual communication (text, icon and augmented reality) should be used in isolation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 130 (5) ◽  
pp. 1173-1179
Author(s):  
Piotr Pietruski ◽  
Marcin Majak ◽  
Ewelina Świątek‐Najwer ◽  
Magdalena Żuk ◽  
Michał Popek ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Esteban Real ◽  
Alok Aggarwal ◽  
Yanping Huang ◽  
Quoc V. Le

The effort devoted to hand-crafting neural network image classifiers has motivated the use of architecture search to discover them automatically. Although evolutionary algorithms have been repeatedly applied to neural network topologies, the image classifiers thus discovered have remained inferior to human-crafted ones. Here, we evolve an image classifier— AmoebaNet-A—that surpasses hand-designs for the first time. To do this, we modify the tournament selection evolutionary algorithm by introducing an age property to favor the younger genotypes. Matching size, AmoebaNet-A has comparable accuracy to current state-of-the-art ImageNet models discovered with more complex architecture-search methods. Scaled to larger size, AmoebaNet-A sets a new state-of-theart 83.9% top-1 / 96.6% top-5 ImageNet accuracy. In a controlled comparison against a well known reinforcement learning algorithm, we give evidence that evolution can obtain results faster with the same hardware, especially at the earlier stages of the search. This is relevant when fewer compute resources are available. Evolution is, thus, a simple method to effectively discover high-quality architectures.


2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (36) ◽  
pp. 4589-4592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Nicholls ◽  
Johnathon C. Robertson ◽  
Michael G. Gardiner ◽  
Alex C. Bissember

The results of a proof-of-concept study demonstrate for the first time that pulsed LED irradiation enhances the rate of product formation and the yield of a visible light-mediated photoredox-catalysed reaction.


Technologies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Sanika Doolani ◽  
Callen Wessels ◽  
Varun Kanal ◽  
Christos Sevastopoulos ◽  
Ashish Jaiswal ◽  
...  

Recently, the use of extended reality (XR) systems has been on the rise, to tackle various domains such as training, education, safety, etc. With the recent advances in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies and ease of availability of high-end, commercially available hardware, the manufacturing industry has seen a rise in the use of advanced XR technologies to train its workforce. While several research publications exist on applications of XR in manufacturing training, a comprehensive review of recent works and applications is lacking to present a clear progress in using such advance technologies. To this end, we present a review of the current state-of-the-art of use of XR technologies in training personnel in the field of manufacturing. First, we put forth the need of XR in manufacturing. We then present several key application domains where XR is being currently applied, notably in maintenance training and in performing assembly task. We also reviewed the applications of XR in other vocational domains and how they can be leveraged in the manufacturing industry. We finally present some current barriers to XR adoption in manufacturing training and highlight the current limitations that should be considered when looking to develop and apply practical applications of XR.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Lewke ◽  
Matthias Koitzsch ◽  
Martin Schellenberger ◽  
Lothar Pfitzner ◽  
Heiner Ryssel ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThis paper presents Thermal Laser Separation (TLS) as a novel dicing technology for silicon carbide (SiC) wafers. Results of this work will play an important role in improving the SiC dicing process regarding throughput and edge quality. TLS process parameters were developed for separating 4H-SiC wafers. Separated SiC dies were analyzed and compared with results produced with current state of the art blade dicing technology. For the first time, fully processed 100 mm 4H-SiC wafers with a thickness of 450 μm, including epi-layer and back side metal layers, could be separated with feed rates up to 200 mm/s. Besides the vastly improved dicing speed, the TLS separation process results in two important features of the separated SiC devices: First, edges are free of chipping and therefore of higher quality than the edges produced by blade dicing. Second, the TLS process is kerf free, which allows for reducing the necessary dicing street width and hence increasing the number of devices per wafer.


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