2023-09-03 15:00:00
Source: Florida Atlantic University
[ 매드타임스 한수경 기자] Researchers at Florida Atlantic University are making strides in stroke rehabilitation by developing the first soft robotic exoskeleton glove that can relearn to play the piano following a stroke.
People who have suffered nerve trauma, such as a stroke, can find daily tasks very difficult due to poor coordination and muscle strength. These issues have spurred the development of robotic devices to help improve their abilities.
The robot glove developed this time is lending a ‘hand’ and giving hope to a piano player who suffered from a stroke. Developed by researchers at Florida Atlantic University, this soft robotic hand exoskeleton uses artificial intelligence to enhance the hand’s abilities.
Although other soft robots have been used for piano playing, the newly developed robotic glove is the first to ‘sense’ the difference between a good and bad performance of the same song and combine these capabilities into a single hand exoskeleton.
The first task assigned to this robotic glove was to help play the piano. Playing an instrument requires fine motor skills and agility of the fingers. Not to mention having to use both hands at once.
Senior author of the paper, FAU’s Erik Engeberg, said: “Playing the piano requires complex and highly skilled movements, and relearning involves restoring and retraining specific movements or skills.” said.
The biggest feature of this glove is that it is flexible, light and adaptable. It can be customized to suit the unique needs of different individuals, ensuring a comfortable and effective rehabilitation experience. “Our robotic gloves are composed of soft, flexible materials and sensors that gently support and support individuals as they re-learn and regain motor skills,” said Engeberg.
The researchers integrated a special sensor array into each fingertip of the robotic glove. Unlike previous exoskeletons, this new technology provides the precise force and guidance needed to restore the fine finger movements needed to play the piano. The robotic glove monitors and responds to the user’s movements, providing feedback and making adjustments in real time, making it easier to learn the correct playing technique.
Machine learning algorithms have emerged to achieve the musical feat. Researchers programmed it to feel the difference between the correct and incorrect versions of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” To introduce variations in performance, we created a pool of songs played without errors and songs with various types of errors.
The advantage of this technology is that it is in the control of the wearer. Users can fine-tune the movement of each finger while wearing the glove. It can also distinguish between accuracy and inaccuracy in piano playing, making it a valuable tool for personalized rehabilitation.
The research team envisions a future where the function of these gloves extends beyond piano playing to various rehabilitation tasks. However, it should be noted that this extension of functionality requires customization to the individual and specific task.
“Importantly, while this study was applied to singing performance, this approach can be applied to the myriad tasks of daily life, and the device facilitates complex rehabilitation programs tailored to each patient,” Engeberg said. is,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, this research was supported in part by two grants from the US National Science Foundation. The findings were published in Frontiers in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.
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