Human-Robot Interaction is a novel field of research dedicated to understanding, designing, and evaluating robotic systems thought to be used by or with humans. Interaction, by definition, requires a situation where two or more people or things communicate with each other or react to each another. Wearable technologies are one of the best tools to act as mediators for achieving such communication between a human and a robot enabling the concept of Human Augmentation, i.e. a combination of biotechnology, electronics and mechanical engineering used to enhance human productivity or capability through natural or artificial method. A new generation of robotic technology, the sensorimotor interface, has the aim of establishing a connection between the human sensorimotor system and the control and sensing of the robotic technology. The thesis presents my contribution to the field of wearable sensorimotor interfaces, collecting all the work I have done toward my Ph.D. degree. Two main topics will be investigated: the use of electromyography signal to control external robotic aids and wearable haptic interfaces for perceiving remote or virtual objects. An EMG-based control interface has been developed to provide interactive user interface for the system to act according to patient's intention of movement. The research efforts have been focused in providing an intuitive, easy to use and hands free device to control the movements of a supernumerary robotic finger exploiting the residual patient's muscular activity. In haptic field, the evolution of the scientific research concerning the artificial touch rendering led to the definition of a new hybrid group of devices able for combining two or more kinds of stimuli (force, vibration, thermal cues). The constraints of both the functional and physical structure as well as weight and encumbrance limitations need to be faced while designing a multi-cue wearable haptic device. My main contribution in this prospective has been done to push the boundaries of the haptic technologies already known from the scientific literature with the aim of developing multi-cue haptic devices capable of taking the interaction with the digitalized sensations to the next level! Designing wearables to fit the user's needs and levels of comfort is a complex process, the goal of all the work done was to make effective prototypes that can augment human capabilities while preserving the easy of use of the interface. As technologies become more pervasive and precise, novel smart devices increasingly permeate our everyday activities. We are constantly in a symbiotic relationship with technologies and they have become an unconscious part of our everyday life. The more we interact with our technologies the more we realise that the human body is a different kind of machine with powerful input and output channels that are still under-exploited in the way we design technology. Research and innovation in the field of human augmentation can bring a step-change in how we think about human-robot interaction and revolutionize interaction paradigms of existing and emerging technologies such as Virtual Reality and Robotics.

Spagnoletti, G. (2020). Augment Human Abilities Through Sensorimotor Interfaces.

Augment Human Abilities Through Sensorimotor Interfaces

Giovanni Spagnoletti
2020-01-01

Abstract

Human-Robot Interaction is a novel field of research dedicated to understanding, designing, and evaluating robotic systems thought to be used by or with humans. Interaction, by definition, requires a situation where two or more people or things communicate with each other or react to each another. Wearable technologies are one of the best tools to act as mediators for achieving such communication between a human and a robot enabling the concept of Human Augmentation, i.e. a combination of biotechnology, electronics and mechanical engineering used to enhance human productivity or capability through natural or artificial method. A new generation of robotic technology, the sensorimotor interface, has the aim of establishing a connection between the human sensorimotor system and the control and sensing of the robotic technology. The thesis presents my contribution to the field of wearable sensorimotor interfaces, collecting all the work I have done toward my Ph.D. degree. Two main topics will be investigated: the use of electromyography signal to control external robotic aids and wearable haptic interfaces for perceiving remote or virtual objects. An EMG-based control interface has been developed to provide interactive user interface for the system to act according to patient's intention of movement. The research efforts have been focused in providing an intuitive, easy to use and hands free device to control the movements of a supernumerary robotic finger exploiting the residual patient's muscular activity. In haptic field, the evolution of the scientific research concerning the artificial touch rendering led to the definition of a new hybrid group of devices able for combining two or more kinds of stimuli (force, vibration, thermal cues). The constraints of both the functional and physical structure as well as weight and encumbrance limitations need to be faced while designing a multi-cue wearable haptic device. My main contribution in this prospective has been done to push the boundaries of the haptic technologies already known from the scientific literature with the aim of developing multi-cue haptic devices capable of taking the interaction with the digitalized sensations to the next level! Designing wearables to fit the user's needs and levels of comfort is a complex process, the goal of all the work done was to make effective prototypes that can augment human capabilities while preserving the easy of use of the interface. As technologies become more pervasive and precise, novel smart devices increasingly permeate our everyday activities. We are constantly in a symbiotic relationship with technologies and they have become an unconscious part of our everyday life. The more we interact with our technologies the more we realise that the human body is a different kind of machine with powerful input and output channels that are still under-exploited in the way we design technology. Research and innovation in the field of human augmentation can bring a step-change in how we think about human-robot interaction and revolutionize interaction paradigms of existing and emerging technologies such as Virtual Reality and Robotics.
2020
Spagnoletti, G. (2020). Augment Human Abilities Through Sensorimotor Interfaces.
Spagnoletti, Giovanni
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11365/1105944
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