Research and Development of Assistive Devices Reconstructing Functional Movements with Bilateral Neural Interface

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The purpose of this research is to achieve artificial limbs such that those devices have a similar level maneuverability and controllability as human. The research took three steps. First, we established a method for picking up the meaning from action potentials of motor neurons. Second, we proposed a method for feeding back sensory signals to brains by electrical stimulations. Third, we integrated these two methods to achieve a high performance of artificial limbs.The experimental and simulation results show that the electrical stimulation for artificial sensory feedback can be conducted non-invasively, and the positive effects appear in the limb movements ; moreover, the stimulation is very useful for rehabilitation and assisting human movements. We applied the technique of electrical stimulation to design of assistive robotic device for upper limbs and to planning of rehabilitations. We also conducted the research for measuring sensory information by a newly developed tactile sensor, and introduced the sensor into artificial hands. It is shown with the experiments that the introduction of the feedback by the tactile sensor is quite useful for maneuvering the artificial hand.