Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Queen's University
$140,353.00
KINARM robotic device for studies of human movement control
EF 2010-11
Résumé
Although scientists and engineers have invented chess programs that can rival grand-masters, they have yet to design a robot that can manipulate chess pieces with the dexterity of a 5-year old child. Why are humans so good at manipulating objects and why are current robots so bad? To answer these questions, research in our lab focuses on understanding the sensory, motor, and cognitive processes underlying object manipulation in humans. Our hope is that the insights gained by studying dexterous object manipulation in healthy individuals can be used in a range of applied areas including human-machine interface design, teleoperator control, robotic manipulator design, and rehabilitation therapy in patients with neurological deficit that often impair manipulatory skill.
This proposal requests funds to purchase a Bimanual KINARM Endpoint Robot device. This is a custom-made, state-of-the-art virtual reality system that will enable us to control not only what participants see (as in most standard virtual reality labs) but also the forces they experience when manipulating virtual objects. The system includes includes two high-perfromance robots with handles attached that participants can grasp and move. The system comes with high precision computer-controlled motors that allow precisely control of the forces acting on the two hands. By controlling these forces, we will be able to simulate objects with a wide range of mechanical properties. The Bimanual KINARM device comes complete with a virtual reality display system that will enable us to also control the visual appearance of the objects participant manipulate. An eye-tracker will be integrated with the system so that we can also investigate when and where people direct their gaze in various manipulation tasks. We will use this state-of-the-art system to investigate how people represent the mechanical properties of objects in the brain and how people use this information to predict the forces required the skillfully manipulate objects.
Programme
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Ontario, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
406853-2011
Name nom
Flanagan, JohnRandall
Department département
Psychology
Organization id
29
Institution établissement
Queen's University
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2010
Competition year année de concours
2011
Award amount
140353
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1502
Committee name en
Biological Systems and Functions
Committee name fr
Systèmes et fonctions biologiques
Area of application code
1210
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Psychology
Area of application fr
Psychologie
Research subject code
6311
Research subject group en
Psychology
Research subject group fr
Psychologie
Research subject en
Motor systems and performance
Research subject fr
Systèmes moteurs et performance
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
KINARM robotic device for studies of human movement control
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Although scientists and engineers have invented chess programs that can rival grand-masters, they have yet to design a robot that can manipulate chess pieces with the dexterity of a 5-year old child. Why are humans so good at manipulating objects and why are current robots so bad? To answer these questions, research in our lab focuses on understanding the sensory, motor, and cognitive processes underlying object manipulation in humans. Our hope is that the insights gained by studying dexterous object manipulation in healthy individuals can be used in a range of applied areas including human-machine interface design, teleoperator control, robotic manipulator design, and rehabilitation therapy in patients with neurological deficit that often impair manipulatory skill.
This proposal requests funds to purchase a Bimanual KINARM Endpoint Robot device. This is a custom-made, state-of-the-art virtual reality system that will enable us to control not only what participants see (as in most standard virtual reality labs) but also the forces they experience when manipulating virtual objects. The system includes includes two high-perfromance robots with handles attached that participants can grasp and move. The system comes with high precision computer-controlled motors that allow precisely control of the forces acting on the two hands. By controlling these forces, we will be able to simulate objects with a wide range of mechanical properties. The Bimanual KINARM device comes complete with a virtual reality display system that will enable us to also control the visual appearance of the objects participant manipulate. An eye-tracker will be integrated with the system so that we can also investigate when and where people direct their gaze in various manipulation tasks. We will use this state-of-the-art system to investigate how people represent the mechanical properties of objects in the brain and how people use this information to predict the forces required the skillfully manipulate objects.
