Neural Control of Robotic Prosthetic Limbs
He (Helen) Huang, Ph.D. & Aaron Fleming, Ph.D
Abstract:
As the population of amputees grows to millions, there is an urgent need for new prosthetics technologies that can provide this large population with the best restoration of normal function possible. Advanced robotic prostheses, such as dexterous prosthetic hands and robotic prosthetic legs, have become commercially available. However, the function of these robotic devices is still limited due to lack of neural control.
In this talk, I will present our research efforts in developing neural-machine interfaces for robotic lower-limb prostheses. We have shown that neural control of robotic prosthetic legs enables individuals with lower limb amputations to seamlessly adapt uneven terrains during locomotion and restore near-normative neuromechanics in standing postural control. Our innovation and engineering approaches may further advance the function of robotic prosthetic limbs and significantly improve the quality of life of individuals with limb amputations.
Speaker Bio - Helen Huang
Dr. He (Helen) Huang is the Jackson Family Distinguished Professor in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at North Carolina State University (NC State) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and the Director of the Closed-Loop Engineering for Advanced Rehabilitation (CLEAR) core. She is also the co-director of NIDILRR funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center. Her research interest lies in neural-machine interfaces, wearable robotics (robotic prosthetics and exoskeletons), learning-based wearable robot control, wearer-robot interaction and co-adaptation, and human motor control/biomechanics. She was a recipient of the Delsys Prize for Innovation in Electromyography, NIDILRR Switzer Fellowship, NSF CAREER Award, ASA Statistics in Physical Engineering Sciences Award, and NC State ALCOA Foundation Distinguished Engineering Research Award. She is a Fellow of AIMBE, Fellow of IEEE, NC State faculty scholar, and member of the Society for Neuroscience, BMES, American Society of Biomechanics, and AAAS. She is the Editor-in-Chief for the IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering and an Editorial Board Member for IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.
Speaker Bio - Aaron Fleming
Dr. Aaron Fleming will be joining Dr. Huang to discuss their work. Dr. Fleming earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at NC State University and his PhD in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at NC State University and UNC Chapel Hill. He was NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NIH F31). He is currently a post-doc fellow at Duke University. Aaron also co-founded startup companies, OpenGait Prosthetics and AVEX Motion, based at RTP.
