sEMG-controlled soft exosuit
A low-cost, fabric-based glove that helps move the fingers and wrist for rehabilitation, triggered by muscle signals from the forearm.
The idea
A soft exosuit that assists finger and wrist movement using pneumatic or cable-driven actuators instead of rigid motors. Surface EMG (sEMG) electrodes on the forearm detect when the wearer is trying to move, and trigger assisted movement: grasping, extending, and flexing or extending the wrist.
Beyond rehab, the same system could be pitched as a way to help people learn new movements. See Human Operator for that idea.
Everything is built from low-cost parts: silicone and fabric actuators, small air pumps or micro-servos with tendons, an Arduino-class microcontroller and consumer sEMG sensors.
Example task
A glove that helps extend the fingers of a simulated stroke-affected hand, triggered by sEMG from the forearm extensors. The team compares unassisted movement, timed assistance and sEMG-triggered assistance.
How we’ll measure it
- sEMG classification accuracy (intent detected versus no intent)
- Range of motion with and without assistance
- Delay between the muscle signal and the actuator moving
- Comfort and wearability feedback from volunteers
- Cost per unit