Towards restoring natural touch for active prosthesis users: a Hands-on approach
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Aerospace Engineering
Abstract
The human sense of touch is incredibly valuable for our ability to explore and interact with our environment. While the basis for the touch receptors are among the earliest findings in the evolutionary record, it has since developed into a complex multimodal interaction that informs almost everything we do [1]. The medium of touch is an explorative, communicative, and supportive tool, that is invaluable to our healthy development and well-being [2,3], with the hand being one of the major players in the sensory system [4].
Roughly one hundred thousand nerves of at least twenty varieties innervate each hand [5] which, by providing tactile feedback to the brain, allows us to grasp complex geometries, manipulate small objects in the hand or even find a light switch in a dark room. However, there exists a large portion of the population who lack the ability to do this: it is estimated that there are currently upwards of three million amputees living in the European Union, with forty thousand new upper limb amputations per annum [6]. It has been shown that this has a massive negative impact on quality-of-life and mental health of the individual [7].
Most commercial prosthetics available to these people lack a comprehensive feedback mechanism that could supply the user with the information that able-bodied persons take for granted. Ironically, even, the drive towards active prosthetics has reduced the amount of tactile information able to be conveyed to the user, when compared to their Bowden-cable counterparts [8]. This trade-off has allowed for more advanced autonomy and control, but often leads to issues with user acceptance [9,10] and reduced performance in grasping tasks due, in part, to this lack of sensory feedback [11].
Thus, natural, informative tactile feedback would be a hugely beneficial addition to upper-limb prosthetic devices. As such the research proposed for this project will aim to answer the following question:
"What are the design constraints of an integrated tactile feedback mechanism for upper limb prosthetics to enable grasping, fine manipulation and user acceptance?"
Roughly one hundred thousand nerves of at least twenty varieties innervate each hand [5] which, by providing tactile feedback to the brain, allows us to grasp complex geometries, manipulate small objects in the hand or even find a light switch in a dark room. However, there exists a large portion of the population who lack the ability to do this: it is estimated that there are currently upwards of three million amputees living in the European Union, with forty thousand new upper limb amputations per annum [6]. It has been shown that this has a massive negative impact on quality-of-life and mental health of the individual [7].
Most commercial prosthetics available to these people lack a comprehensive feedback mechanism that could supply the user with the information that able-bodied persons take for granted. Ironically, even, the drive towards active prosthetics has reduced the amount of tactile information able to be conveyed to the user, when compared to their Bowden-cable counterparts [8]. This trade-off has allowed for more advanced autonomy and control, but often leads to issues with user acceptance [9,10] and reduced performance in grasping tasks due, in part, to this lack of sensory feedback [11].
Thus, natural, informative tactile feedback would be a hugely beneficial addition to upper-limb prosthetic devices. As such the research proposed for this project will aim to answer the following question:
"What are the design constraints of an integrated tactile feedback mechanism for upper limb prosthetics to enable grasping, fine manipulation and user acceptance?"
Planned Impact
Rapid growth in the already burgeoning Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) market has been estimated from many sources. This growth is driven by socio-economic needs and enabled by advances in algorithms and technologies converging on robotics. The market potential for applications of robotics and autonomous systems is, therefore, of huge value to the UK. There are four major areas where FARSCOPE will strive to fulfil and deliver on the impact agenda.
1. Training: A coherent strategy for impact must observe the value of the 'innovation pipeline'; from training of world-class researchers to novel products in the 'shop window'. The FARSCOPE training programme described in the Case for Support will produce researchers who will be able to advance knowledge, expertise and skills in the many associated aspects of academic pursuit in the field. Crucially, they will be guided by its industrial partners and BRL's Industrial Advisory Group, so that they are grounded in the real-world context of the many robotics and autonomous systems application domains. This means pursuing research excellence while embracing the challenges set within the context of a range of real-world factors.
2. Economic and Social Exploitation: The elevated position of advanced robotics, in the commercial 'value chain', makes it imperative that we create graduates from our Centre who are acutely aware of this potential. BRL is centrally engaged in its regional SME and business ecology, as evidenced by its recent industry workshop and 'open lab' events, which attracted some 60 and 280 industrial delegates respectively. BRL is also a key contributor to regional economic innovation. BRL has engaged two business managers and allocated some dedicated space to specifically support work on RAS related industrial engagement and innovation and, importantly, technology incubation. BRL will be creating an EU-funded Robotics Innovation Facilities to help coordinating a EUR 20m a programme to specifically promote and encourage direct links between academia and industry with a focus on SMEs. All of these high-impact BRL activities will be fed directly into the FARSCOPE programme.
A critical mass of key industrial and end-user partnerships across a diverse array of sectors have given their support to the FARSCOPE centre. All have indicated their interest in engaging through the FARSCOPE mechanisms identified in the Case for Support. These demonstrate the impact of the FARSCOPE centre in engaging existing, and forming new, strategic partnerships in the RAS field.
3. Fostering links with other Research Institutions and Academic Dissemination: It is essential that FARSCOPE CDT students learn to share best practice with other RAS research centres, both in the UK and beyond. In addition to attendance and presentation at academic conferences nationally and overseas, FARSCOPE will use the following mechanisms to engage with the academic community. BRL has very many strong links with the UK, EU and global RAS research community. We will use these as a basis for cementing existing links and fostering new ones.
4. Engaging the Public: FARSCOPE will train and then encourage its student cohorts to engage with the general public, to educate about the potential of these new technologies, to participate in debates on ethics, safety and legality of autonomous systems, and to enthuse future generations to work in this exciting area. UWE and the University of Bristol, BRL's two supporting institutions, host the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement. In addition, UWE's Science Communication Unit is internationally renowned for its diverse and innovative activities, which engage the public with science. FARSCOPE students will receive guidance and training in public engagement in order to act as worthy RAS research 'ambassadors'.
1. Training: A coherent strategy for impact must observe the value of the 'innovation pipeline'; from training of world-class researchers to novel products in the 'shop window'. The FARSCOPE training programme described in the Case for Support will produce researchers who will be able to advance knowledge, expertise and skills in the many associated aspects of academic pursuit in the field. Crucially, they will be guided by its industrial partners and BRL's Industrial Advisory Group, so that they are grounded in the real-world context of the many robotics and autonomous systems application domains. This means pursuing research excellence while embracing the challenges set within the context of a range of real-world factors.
2. Economic and Social Exploitation: The elevated position of advanced robotics, in the commercial 'value chain', makes it imperative that we create graduates from our Centre who are acutely aware of this potential. BRL is centrally engaged in its regional SME and business ecology, as evidenced by its recent industry workshop and 'open lab' events, which attracted some 60 and 280 industrial delegates respectively. BRL is also a key contributor to regional economic innovation. BRL has engaged two business managers and allocated some dedicated space to specifically support work on RAS related industrial engagement and innovation and, importantly, technology incubation. BRL will be creating an EU-funded Robotics Innovation Facilities to help coordinating a EUR 20m a programme to specifically promote and encourage direct links between academia and industry with a focus on SMEs. All of these high-impact BRL activities will be fed directly into the FARSCOPE programme.
A critical mass of key industrial and end-user partnerships across a diverse array of sectors have given their support to the FARSCOPE centre. All have indicated their interest in engaging through the FARSCOPE mechanisms identified in the Case for Support. These demonstrate the impact of the FARSCOPE centre in engaging existing, and forming new, strategic partnerships in the RAS field.
3. Fostering links with other Research Institutions and Academic Dissemination: It is essential that FARSCOPE CDT students learn to share best practice with other RAS research centres, both in the UK and beyond. In addition to attendance and presentation at academic conferences nationally and overseas, FARSCOPE will use the following mechanisms to engage with the academic community. BRL has very many strong links with the UK, EU and global RAS research community. We will use these as a basis for cementing existing links and fostering new ones.
4. Engaging the Public: FARSCOPE will train and then encourage its student cohorts to engage with the general public, to educate about the potential of these new technologies, to participate in debates on ethics, safety and legality of autonomous systems, and to enthuse future generations to work in this exciting area. UWE and the University of Bristol, BRL's two supporting institutions, host the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement. In addition, UWE's Science Communication Unit is internationally renowned for its diverse and innovative activities, which engage the public with science. FARSCOPE students will receive guidance and training in public engagement in order to act as worthy RAS research 'ambassadors'.
