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Biomechatronics: How It Works

Biomechatronics is an interdisciplinary field that integrates biology, mechanics, and electronics to develop devices that interact with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems. These devices aim to help restore motor control lost to injury or disease. Biomechatronics devices use biosensors to detect user intentions and feedback, mechanical sensors to measure the device, a controller to direct movements based on sensor inputs, and actuators resembling artificial muscles to produce movement. Current research focuses on analyzing complex human motions, interfacing devices with the nervous system, and using living tissue as actuators.

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Sathiasilan Sundaram
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74 views

Biomechatronics: How It Works

Biomechatronics is an interdisciplinary field that integrates biology, mechanics, and electronics to develop devices that interact with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems. These devices aim to help restore motor control lost to injury or disease. Biomechatronics devices use biosensors to detect user intentions and feedback, mechanical sensors to measure the device, a controller to direct movements based on sensor inputs, and actuators resembling artificial muscles to produce movement. Current research focuses on analyzing complex human motions, interfacing devices with the nervous system, and using living tissue as actuators.

Uploaded by

Sathiasilan Sundaram
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Biomechatronics

Biomechatronics is an applied interdisciplinary science that aims to integrate mechanical


elements, electronics and parts of biological organisms. Biomechatronics includes the aspects of
biology, mechanics, and electronics. It also encompasses the fields of robotics and neuroscience.
One example of Biomechatronics is a study done by Hugh Herr a professor at M.I.T.. Herr
excised the muscles of frog legs, to attach to a mechanical fish and by pulsing electrical current
through the muscle fibers, he caused the fish to swim. The goal of these experiments is to make
devices that interact with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems. The end result is that
the devices will help with human motor control that was lost or impaired by trauma, disease or
birth defects.

[edit] How It Works


Biomechatronics devices have to be based on how the human body works. For example, four
different steps must occur to be able to lift the foot to walk. First, impulses from the motor center
of the brain are sent to the foot and leg muscles. Next the nerve cells in the feet send information
to the brain telling it to adjust the muscle groups or amount of force required to walk across the
ground. Different amounts of force are applied depending on the type of surface being walked
across. The leg's muscle spindle nerve cells then sense and send the position of the floor back up
to the brain. Finally, when the foot is raised to step, signals are sent to muscles in the leg and foot
to set it down.

[edit] Biosensors

Biosensors are used to detect what the user wants to do or their intentions and motions. In some
devices the information can be relayed by the user's nervous system or muscle system. This
information is related by the biosensor to a controller which can be located inside or outside the
biomechatronic device. In addition biosensors receive information about the limb position and
force from the limb and actuator. Biosensors come in a variety of forms. They can be wires
which detect electrical activity, needle electrodes implanted in muscles, and electrode arrays with
nerves growing through them.

[edit] Mechanical Sensors

The purpose of the mechanical sensors is to measure information about the biomechatronic
device and relate that information to the biosensor or controller.

[edit] Controller

The controller in a biomechatronic device relays the user's intentions to the actuators. It also
interprets feedback information to the user that comes from the biosensors and mechanical
sensors. The other function of the controller is to control the biomechatronic device's
movements.

[edit] Actuator

The actuator is an artificial muscle. Its job is to produce force and movement. Depending on
whether the device is orthotic or prosthetic the actuator can be a motor that assists or replaces the
user's original muscle.

[edit] Research
Biomechatronics is a rapidly growing field but as of now there are very few labs which conduct
research. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, University of California at Berkley, MIT, and
University of Twente in the Netherlands are the researching leaders in biomechatronics. Three
main areas are emphasized the current research.

1. Analyzing human motions, which are complex, to aid in the design of biomechatronic
devices
2. Studying how electronic devices can be interfaced with the nervous system.
3. Testing the ways to use living muscle tissue as actuators for electronic devices

[edit] Analyzing Motions

A great deal of analysis over human motion is needed because human movement is very
complex. MIT and the University of Twente are both working to analyze these movements. They
are doing this through a combination of computer models, camera systems, and
electromyograms.

[edit] Interfacing

Interfacing allows biomechatronic devices to connect with the muscle systems and nerves of the
user in order send and receive information from the device. This is a technology that is not
available in ordinary orthotics and prosthetics devices. Groups at the University of Twente are
making drastic steps in this department. Scientists there have developed a device which will help
to treat paralysis and stroke victims who are unable to control their foot while walking. The
researchers are also nearing a breakthrough which would allow a person with an amputated leg
to control their prosthetic leg through their stump muscles.

[edit] MIT Research

Hugh Herr is the leading biomechatronic scientist at MIT. Herr and his group of researchers are
developing a sieve integrated circuit electrode and prosthetic devices that are coming closer to
mimicking real human movement. The two prosthetic devices currently in the making will
control knee movement and the other will control the stiffness of an ankle joint.
[edit] Robotic Fish

As mentioned before Herr and his colleagues made a robotic fish that was propelled by living
muscle tissue taken from frog legs. The robotic fish was a prototype of a biomechatronic device
with a living actuator. The following charactersitics were given to the fish.[1]

 A styrofoam float so the fish can float


 Electrical wires for connections
 A silicone tail that enables force while swimming
 Power provided by lithium batteries
 A microcontroller to control movement
 An infrared sensor enables the microcontroller to communicate with a handheld device
 Muscles stimulated by an electronic unit

[edit] Arts Research

New media artists at UCSD are using biomechatronics in performance art pieces, such as
Technesexual (more information, photos, video), a performance which uses biometric sensors to
bridge the performers' real bodies to their Second Life avatars and Slapshock (more information,
photos,video), in which medical TENS units are used to explore intersubjective symbiosis in
intimate relationships.

[edit] Growth
The demand for biomechatronic devices are at an all time high and show no signs of slowing
down. Many biomechatronic researchers are closely collaborating with military organizations.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense are giving funds to
different labs to help soldiers and war veterans [1]

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