Effects of Object Fragility on Digit Force Coordination for Manipulation

Abstract

Current techniques involving the assessment and rehabilitation of peripheral neuropathies, neurological disorders, and traumatic injuries for motor control of hand digit forces fail to properly capture the complexities involved in multi-digit force coordination. By creating a protocol that is able to decompose multi-digit force coordination by extracting manipulation and grasping properties using principles in robotics, a strategy to address the gap in clinical literature was devised. This project aims to improve and focus on a sub-section of research in this field by recording and analyzing both 2-digit finger forces of specifically fragile object properties and EMG signals of the corresponding muscles involved in picking up an object.

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