Related papers: Postural Virtual Fixtures for Ergonomic Physical I…
Supernumerary robotic arms (SRAs) can be used as the third arm to complement and augment the abilities of human users. The user carrying a SRA forms a connected kinodynamic chain, which can be viewed as a special class of floating-base…
This paper describes a novel approach in human robot interaction driven by ergonomics. With a clear focus on optimising ergonomics, the approach proposed here continuously observes a human user's posture and by invoking appropriate…
In collaborative tasks where humans work alongside machines, the robot's movements and behaviour can have a significant impact on the operator's safety, health, and comfort. To address this issue, we present a multi-stereo camera system…
Supernumerary robotic limbs (SLs) have the potential to transform a wide range of human activities, yet their usability remains limited by key technical challenges, particularly in ensuring safety and achieving versatile control. Here, we…
In this paper, we address the development of a robotic rehabilitation system for the upper limbs based on collaborative end-effector solutions. The use of commercial collaborative robots offers significant advantages for this task, as they…
Work environments are often inadequate and lack inclusivity for individuals with upper-body disabilities. This paper presents a novel online framework for adaptive human-robot interaction (HRI) that accommodates users' arm mobility…
In this study, we investigate how the central nervous system (CNS) organizes postural control synergies when individuals perform a complex catch-and-throw task in a virtual reality (VR) environment. A Robotic Upright Stand Trainer (RobUST)…
Supernumerary Robotic Limbs (SRLs) exhibit inherently compliant behavior due to the elasticity present at the intersection of human tissue and the robot. This compliance, can prominently influence the operation of some SRLs, depending on…
Robots can serve as safety catalysts on construction job sites by taking over hazardous and repetitive tasks while alleviating the risks associated with existing manual workflows. Research on the safety of physical human-robot interaction…
Human-robot collaborative assembly systems enhance the efficiency and productivity of the workplace but may increase the workers' cognitive demand. This paper proposes an online and quantitative framework to assess the cognitive workload…
Stroke patients often experience upper limb impairments that restrict their mobility and daily activities. Physical therapy (PT) is the most effective method to improve impairments, but low patient adherence and participation in PT…
In human-robot systems, ensuring safety during force control in the presence of both internal and external disturbances is crucial. As a typical loosely coupled floating-base robot system, the supernumerary robotic leg (SRL) system is…
Supernumerary Robotic Limbs (SRLs) can enhance human capability within close proximity. However, as a wearable device, the generated moment from its operation acts on the human body as an external torque. When the moments increase, more…
This paper introduces an upper limb postural optimization method for enhancing physical ergonomics and force manipulability during bimanual human-robot co-carrying tasks. Existing research typically emphasizes human safety or manipulative…
The objective of this paper is to develop and evaluate a directional vibrotactile feedback interface as a guidance tool for postural adjustments during work. In contrast to the existing active and wearable systems such as exoskeletons, we…
Virtual Reality (VR) users often encounter postural instability, i.e., balance issues, which can be a significant impediment to universal usability and accessibility, particularly for those with balance impairments. Prior research has…
Neurorehabilitation conventionally relies on the interaction between a patient and a physical therapist. Robotic systems can improve and enrich the physical feedback provided to patients after neurological injury, but they under-utilize the…
Adapting upper-limb impedance (i.e., stiffness, damping, inertia) is essential for humans interacting with dynamic environments for executing grasping or manipulation tasks. On the other hand, control methods designed for state-of-the-art…
Robotic devices hold great potential for efficient and reliable assessment of neuromotor abnormalities in post-stroke patients. However, spasticity caused by stroke is still assessed manually in clinical settings. The limited and variable…
Ergonomics and human comfort are essential concerns in physical human-robot interaction. Common practical methods in the area either fail in estimating the correct posture due to occlusion or suffer from inaccurate ergonomics models in…