On the Use of Simulators for Control of Orthoses

这个建议是开发方法来控制一个设备，扩展人类的机械能力。“扩展器”是一个套在个人手臂上的袖子，可以通过微弱的自主运动来控制。“扩展器”提供放大，以便微弱的信号可以用来控制强大的矫形器。该提案的主旨是建立一个计算机驱动的机械模拟器，用于开发控制设备的算法，尽管人类手臂的特征有很大的变化。实际测量将用于推导人体手臂的输入-输出关系；然后，这些测量将被用作生命系统的可重复表示，用于探索不同的控制算法。如果成功，这项研究将应用于一些运动障碍患者（包括部分瘫痪）的功能恢复，以及人类控制机器人的设计。

This proposal is to develop methods for controlling a device that extends human mechanical ability. The "extender" is a sleeve that fits over the arm of an individual, and that can be controlled by weak voluntary movements. The "extender" provides amplification so that the weak signals may be used to control a powerful orthosis. The thrust of the proposal is to build a computer-driven mechanical simulator for developing algorithms for controlling the device in spite of wide variations of the characteristics of the human arm. Realistic measurement will be used to derive input-output relationship for the human arm; these measurements will then be used as reproducible representations of the living system for exploring different control algorithms. If successful, the research will have application in restoring function to some individuals with movement disorders (including partial paralysis), and in the design of human-controlled robots.