Texture Discrimination using a Soft Biomimetic Finger for Prosthetic Applications

Balamurugan, Darshini; Nakagawa-Silva, Andrei; Nguyen, Harrison; Low, Jin Huat; Shallal, Christopher; Osborn, Luke; Soares, Alcimar Barbosa; Yeow, Chen-Hua; Thakor, Nitish V.

doi:10.1109/icorr.2019.8779442

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…These textures may guide and control the deformation and recovery processes in the material. Also, texture can affect surface interactions, such as adhesion and friction, which play a role in the shape memory behavior of biomimetic materials [129]. Optimizing the surface texture can reduce friction during shape recovery, allowing for smoother and more efficient transitions between different shapes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transforming Object Design and Creation: Biomaterials and Contemporary Manufacturing Leading the Way

Kantaros,

Ganetsos,

Petrescu

2024

Biomimetics

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In the field of three-dimensional object design and fabrication, this paper explores the transformative potential at the intersection of biomaterials, biopolymers, and additive manufacturing. Drawing inspiration from the intricate designs found in the natural world, this study contributes to the evolving landscape of manufacturing and design paradigms. Biomimicry, rooted in emulating nature’s sophisticated solutions, serves as the foundational framework for developing materials endowed with remarkable characteristics, including adaptability, responsiveness, and self-transformation. These advanced engineered biomimetic materials, featuring attributes such as shape memory and self-healing properties, undergo rigorous synthesis and characterization procedures, with the overarching goal of seamless integration into the field of additive manufacturing. The resulting synergy between advanced manufacturing techniques and nature-inspired materials promises to revolutionize the production of objects capable of dynamic responses to environmental stimuli. Extending beyond the confines of laboratory experimentation, these self-transforming objects hold significant potential across diverse industries, showcasing innovative applications with profound implications for object design and fabrication. Through the reduction of waste generation, minimization of energy consumption, and the reduction of environmental footprint, the integration of biomaterials, biopolymers, and additive manufacturing signifies a pivotal step towards fostering ecologically conscious design and manufacturing practices. Within this context, inanimate three-dimensional objects will possess the ability to transcend their static nature and emerge as dynamic entities capable of evolution, self-repair, and adaptive responses in harmony with their surroundings. The confluence of biomimicry and additive manufacturing techniques establishes a seminal precedent for a profound reconfiguration of contemporary approaches to design, manufacturing, and ecological stewardship, thereby decisively shaping a more resilient and innovative global milieu.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transforming Object Design and Creation: Biomaterials and Contemporary Manufacturing Leading the Way

Kantaros,

Ganetsos,

Petrescu

2024

Biomimetics

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“…Researchers developed biomimetic tactile sensors [178,179] for prosthetic and robot hands [180]. Concurrent research shows advances in texture sensing [181,182]. Additionally, advances in machine learning (ML) algorithms and computers are improving the precision of soft robots both in actuation and sensing.…”

Section: The Perspectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Soft Medical Robots and Probes: Concise Survey of Current Advances

Sayahkarajy,

Witte

2023

Design, Construction, Maintenance

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Soft robotics has emerged as a new branch of robotics gaining huge research interest in recent decades. Owning intrinsic advantages such as compliance and safety, soft robots are closely associated with the medical requirements of medical robots. This review is written to overview advances in the medical applications of soft robots, either for readers primarily familiar with traditional medical systems, or for researchers planning to develop soft robots for medical applications. Recent publications related to soft medical robots were reviewed to represent the state’, ’of’, ’the’, ’art advances in this field. The review tends to compress the scope to trunk’, ’shaped soft robots and appraise the status of soft robots and their distance from clinical use. Several papers related to the construction and capabilities of soft robots were referenced. Roughly 190 related articles published in the current period from 2018 to the publication date (representing almost 90% of the references to the theme totally identified) were reviewed. Structure of soft robots, advances in technology, and the aptitudes in medical applications were discussed. The trunk’, ’like soft robots conspicuously are proposed for applications including robot assisted surgery where a probe is inserted into the human body. Such robots are also present in other medical robots as actuators. The literature shows that different methods are used to fabricate soft robots and employ them in different robotics tasks including positioning, grasping, and force exertion. Noticeably, such studies were done in robotics laboratories, dealing with robotics engineering problems. This review suggests that the technology is actively developing, but further focus on specific medical applications is required to fill the gap between soft robotics and its clinical use.

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“…Therefore, under the MM paradigm, the use of vibrotactile stimulation should convey accelerationmediated contact cues related to the characteristics of objects being touched and facilitate their manipulation [14]. Nevertheless, methods to reproduce cutaneous cues of the surfaces as texture for prosthetic users are less investigated than solutions to communicate contact and grip force of prosthetic limbs [15]. Furthermore, to the best of the authors' knowledge, commercial embedded vibrotactile prosthetic feedback solutions for texture and contact artificial perception are still not currently available.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

VIBES: Vibro-Inertial Bionic Enhancement System in a Prosthetic Socket

Ivani,

Barontini,

Catalano

et al. 2023

2023 International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR)

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The use of vibrotactile feedback is of growing interest in the field of prosthetics, but few devices fully integrate this technology in the prosthesis to transmit high-frequency contact information (such as surface roughness and first contact) arising from the interaction of the prosthetic device with external items. This study describes a wearable vibrotactile system for high-frequency tactile information embedded in the prosthetic socket. The device consists of two compact planar vibrotactile actuators in direct contact with the user's skin to transmit tactile cues. These stimuli are directly related to the acceleration profiles recorded with two IMUS placed on the distal phalanx of a soft under-actuated robotic prosthesis (Soft-Hand Pro). We characterized the system from a psychophysical point of view with fifteen able-bodied participants by computing participants' Just Noticeable Difference (JND) related to the discrimination of vibrotactile cues delivered on the index finger, which are associated with the exploration of different sandpapers. Moreover, we performed a pilot experiment with one SoftHand Pro prosthesis user by designing a task, i.e. Active Texture Identification, to investigate if our feedback could enhance users' roughness discrimination. Results indicate that the device can effectively convey contact and texture cues, which users can readily detect and distinguish.

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Texture Discrimination using a Soft Biomimetic Finger for Prosthetic Applications

Cited by 11 publications

References 25 publications

Transforming Object Design and Creation: Biomaterials and Contemporary Manufacturing Leading the Way

Transforming Object Design and Creation: Biomaterials and Contemporary Manufacturing Leading the Way

Soft Medical Robots and Probes: Concise Survey of Current Advances

VIBES: Vibro-Inertial Bionic Enhancement System in a Prosthetic Socket

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