2023-12-15 17:48:49
In a study published in Science Robotics [1]Silvestro Micera, neuroengineer at EPFL, and his team explain how movements of the diaphragm can be controlled “ to successfully order an additional arm », « which amounts to providing a healthy individual with a third robotic arm ».
The study is part of the project “ Third-Arm ”, which aims to develop “ a portable robotic arm » « to help with daily tasks or in search and rescue operations ».
Better understand how the brain works?
« If we ask the brain to do something completely new, we can find out whether it has the capacity to do it and whether it is possible to facilitate this learning.indicates the researcher. We can then transfer this knowledge to develop, for example, assistive devices for people with disabilities or rehabilitation protocols following a stroke. »
« We want to understand if our brain is wired to control what nature gave us », deciphers Solaiman Shokur, senior scientist at the Institute Neuro-X from EPFL. “ We have shown that the human brain can adapt to coordinate new limbs in tandem with our biological limbs “, he says.
“A continuum between rehabilitation and augmentation”
« It involves acquiring new motor functions, beyond the existing functions of a given user, whether a healthy individual or a disabled person. », Specifies the researcher. “ From a nervous system perspective, it is a continuum between rehabilitation and augmentation “, he believes.
To explore the “ cognitive constraints of augmentation “, the researchers first built a virtual environment to test the ability of a healthy user to control a virtual arm by moving their diaphragm. They found that diaphragm control did not interfere with actions such as physiological arm control, speech or gaze.
Virtual reality training
Equipped with a virtual reality headset, the user visualizes three arms: in addition to his two arms and his two hands, a third arm is located between the two, with a “ symmetrical hand with six fingers »[2].
In the virtual environment, the user is asked to extend the left hand, the right hand, or the hand symmetrical in the middle. In the real environment, the user holds an exoskeleton with both arms, which allows the user to control the virtual left and right arms. Movements detected by a belt placed around the diaphragm are used to control the virtual symmetrical arm in the middle.
The system was tested on 61 healthy subjects during more than 150 sessions.
“Very intuitive” control
« Control of the third arm through the diaphragm is actually very intuitive, with participants learning to control the additional limb very quickly “, says Giulia Dominijanni, PhD student at EPFL.
In addition to the diaphragm, ear muscles were also tested to determine whether it was possible to perform new tasks, such as controlling the movement of a computer mouse. These alternative control strategies might one day contribute to the development of rehabilitation protocols for people with motor impairments, the researchers hope.
Initially, the studies carried out as part of the project Third arm aimed to help amputees. However, this latest research goes beyond the repair of the human body to move towards augmentation (cf. Patrick Hetzel: “Neurotechnologies must, first and foremost, serve to heal and repair”). Scientists now want to explore “ the true potential of this approach », on real tasks, both inside and outside the laboratory.
[1] Giulia Dominijanni et al, Human motor augmentation with an extra robotic arm without functional interference, Science Robotics (2023). DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adh1438
[2] « to avoid any bias in favor of the right or left hand »
Source: Tech Xplore, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (13/12/2023) – Photo: iStock
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#rehabilitation #augmentation #Controlling #arm #diaphragm
