4.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This is a graduate level hands-on course to learn how to make prosthetic limbs. The course will begin with doing background literature and technology review. The students will then do up to 8 laboratory exercises and then follow up with 4 weeks of hands on project building on one of the laboratories to take the idea to cutting edge research in the field. The laboratory exercises will include 1) Electrodes for muscle (EMG) and brain (EEG) signal recording. 2) Circuits for signal amplification and acquisition. 3) Signal processing of EMG and ECG using conventional spectral and discriminant analysis. 4) Design of Control of prosthetic fingers and hands. 5) Soft robotics – design of a prosthetic finger. 6) Tactile sensor design. 7) Tactile sensing and feedback for prosthesis. 8) Simulation using graphical animation and augmented reality. The projects done by students will be on advanced topics such as: A) Pattern recognition and machine intelligence of EMG decoding for dexterous hand control. B) Design of soft robotic multi-finger hand. C) Sensory perceptions: perceiving light touch to pain. D) Augmented reality learning, training and performance. In addition, the students will visit prosthetics/robotics laboratories, startup company and Applied Physics Lab where upper limb prosthesis development takes place. They will be expected to devote equivalent of 8 hours of hands on laboratory time, and as much time reviewing the literature, writing laboratory reports, and the final project report as a paper and a patent, and do a demonstration and make a full presentation. The course will be self-paced and open to graduate students who will take part in the laboratory and project development, learn by doing, and demonstrate ability to take basic ideas to advanced, novel solutions. Selection will be based on an interview about skills, readiness, and motivation.