Stereoscopic human interfaces

This article focuses on the use of stereoscopic video interfaces for telerobotics. Topics concerning human visual perception, binocular image capturing, and stereoscopic devices are described. There is a wide variety of video interfaces for telerobotic systems. Choosing the best video interface depends on the telerobotic application requirements. Simple monoscopic cameras are good enough for watching remote robot movements or for teleprogramming a sequence of commands. However, when operators seek precise robot guidance or wish to manipulate objects, a better perception of the remote environment must be achieved, for which more advanced visual interfaces are required. This implies a higher degree of telepresence, and, therefore, the most suitable visual interface has to be chosen. The aim of this article is to describe the two main aspects using stereoscopic interfaces: the capture of binocular video images, according to the disparity limits in human perception and the proper selection of the visualization interface for stereoscopic images

Simplified Hand Configuration for Object Manipulation

This work is focused on obtaining realistic human hand models that are suitable for manipulation tasks. Firstly, a 24 DOF kinematic model of the human hand is defined. This model is based on the human skeleton. Intra-finger and inter-finger constraints have been included in order to improve the movement realism. Secondly, two simplified hand descriptions (9 and 6 DOF) have been developed according to the constraints predefined. These simplified models involve some errors in reconstructing the hand posture. These errors are calculated with respect to the 24 DOF model and evaluated according to the hand gestures. Finally, some criteria are defined by which to select the hand description best suited to the features of the manipulation task

A clustering technique for partial discharge and noise sources identification in power cables by means of waveform parameters

On-line partial discharge (PD) measurements have become a common technique for assessing the insulation condition of installed high voltage (HV) insulated cables. When on-line tests are performed in noisy environments, or when more than one source of pulse-shaped signals are present in a cable system, it is difficult to perform accurate diagnoses. In these cases, an adequate selection of the non-conventional measuring technique and the implementation of effective signal processing tools are essential for a correct evaluation of the insulation degradation. Once a specific noise rejection filter is applied, many signals can be identified as potential PD pulses, therefore, a classification tool to discriminate the PD sources involved is required. This paper proposes an efficient method for the classification of PD signals and pulse-type noise interferences measured in power cables with HFCT sensors. By using a signal feature generation algorithm, representative parameters associated to the waveform of each pulse acquired are calculated so that they can be separated in different clusters. The efficiency of the clustering technique proposed is demonstrated through an example with three different PD sources and several pulse-shaped interferences measured simultaneously in a cable system with a high frequency current transformer (HFCT)

CONTROL OF INSULATION CONDITION OF SMART GRIDS BY MEANS OF CONTINUOUS PD MONITORING

ABSTRAC

Telemanipulación y locomoción mediante robots modulares reconfigurables en entornos semiestructurados

Resultados de investigación del proyecto Robmat sobre robots modulare

Debilidad de la voluntad y dominio racional. [RESEÑA]

Ignacio SERRANO DEL POZO, Debilidad de la voluntad y dominio racional. El problema de la incontinencia y la continencia en la filosofía de Tomás de Aquino, Pamplona: Eunsa («Colección de Pensamiento medieval y renacentista», 135), 2013, 254 pp

Efficient upper limb position estimation based on angular displacement sensors for wearable devices

Motion tracking techniques have been extensively studied in recent years. However, capturing movements of the upper limbs is a challenging task. This document presents the estimation of arm orientation and elbow and wrist position using wearable flexible sensors (WFSs). A study was developed to obtain the highest range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder with as few sensors as possible, and a method for estimating arm length and a calibration procedure was proposed. Performance was verified by comparing measurement of the shoulder joint angles obtained from commercial two-axis soft angular displacement sensors (sADS) from Bend Labs and from the ground truth system (GTS) OptiTrack. The global root-mean-square error (RMSE) for the shoulder angle is 2.93 degrees and 37.5 mm for the position estimation of the wrist in cyclical movements; this measure of RMSE was improved to 13.6 mm by implementing a gesture classifier.This work has been partially supported by the project “LUXBIT: Lightweight Upper limbs eXosuit for BImanual Task Enhancement” under RTI2018-094346-B-I00 grant, funded by the Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades”.Peer reviewe

Hybrid Exoskeleton for Upper Limb Rehabilitation

[Abstract] The last decades have witnessed a rapid and vast development of robots for physical rehabilitation that allow efficient planning of the rehabilitation process in terms of cost, duration of sessions and availability of the therapist. This project aims to qualitatively evaluate an exoskeleton for upper body rehabilitation. The device presents an approach to the development of a device with the end-effector anchored to the ground that performs the actuation on an exoskeleton coupled to the body of the subject by cables. Experimentation with patients suffering from the supraspinatus tendon is documented by performing a series of movements dictated by a doctor.[Resumen] Las últimas décadas han sido testigos de un rápido y vasto desarrollo de robots para la rehabilitación física que permiten una planificación eficiente del proceso de rehabilitación en términos de costo, duración de sesiones y disponibilidad del terapeuta. Este proyecto tiene como objetivo evaluar cualitativamente un exoesqueleto para la rehabilitación del tren superior. El dispositivo expone un acercamiento al desarrollo de un dispositivo con el efector final anclado a tierra que realiza la actuación sobre un exoesqueleto acoplado al cuerpo del sujeto mediante cables. Se documenta la experimentación con pacientes que padecen del tendón supraespinoso realizando una serie de movimientos dictados por un médico.Los trabajos de este artículo han sido parcialmente financiados por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, bajo el proyecto LUXBIT (RTI2018-094346-B-100) y por el Programa Propio de I+D+i de la Universidad Politécnica de Madri

Validation of a Hybrid Exoskeleton for Upper Limb Rehabilitation. A Preliminary Study

Recovery of therapeutic or functional ambulatory capacity in patients with rotator cuff injury is a primary goal of rehabilitation. Wearable powered exoskeletons allow patients to perform repetitive practice with large movements to maximize recovery, even immediately after the acute event. The aim of this paper is to describe the usability, acceptability and acceptance of a hybrid exoskeleton for upper-limb passive rehabilitation using the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire. This equipment, called ExoFlex, is defined as a hybrid exoskeleton since it is made up of rigid and soft components. The exoskeleton mechanical description is presented along with its control system and the way motion is structured in rehabilitation sessions. Seven patients (six women and one man) have participated in the evaluation of this equipment, which are in the range of 50 to 79 years old. Preliminary evidence of the acceptance and usability by both patients and clinicians are very promising, obtaining an average score of 80.71 in the SUS test, as well as good results in a questionnaire that evaluates the clinicians' perceived usability of ExoFlex.This work has been partially supported by the project “LUXBIT: Lightweight Upper limbs eXosuit for BImanual Task Enhancement” under RTI2018-094346-B-I00 grant, funded by the Spanish “Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades” and the “Programa Propio de I+D+i” of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. The Authors would like to thank all patient and clinicians that have been participated in the validation test of the exoskeleton. Also, Aldo wants to thank the CONACYT (Mexico) for the full grant to follow the PhD program at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid with the a CVU number 630799-332912 under the scholarship 472074.Peer reviewe