Minimizing Interference in Robotic Rehabilitation via Asymmetric Stiffness Force Fields

This article introduces a novel approach for guiding human arm movement in the context of robotic rehabilitation. We propose upper limb movement guidance using a force field based on an asymmetric stiffness matrix. By introducing asymmetry in stiffness design, the proposed force field can deflect ar...

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Main Authors: Yasuhiro Kato, Sho Sakaino, Toshiaki Tsuji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11006019/
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author Yasuhiro Kato
Sho Sakaino
Toshiaki Tsuji
author_facet Yasuhiro Kato
Sho Sakaino
Toshiaki Tsuji
author_sort Yasuhiro Kato
collection DOAJ
description This article introduces a novel approach for guiding human arm movement in the context of robotic rehabilitation. We propose upper limb movement guidance using a force field based on an asymmetric stiffness matrix. By introducing asymmetry in stiffness design, the proposed force field can deflect arm movement toward the target direction of a reaching movement while minimizing impeding effects. We hypothesize that this method can guide a human in the desired direction without interfering with their voluntary movement. To evaluate the performance of the human arm guidance technique, we conducted upper limb reaching experiments using a 2-degree-of-freedom robot arm with ten healthy volunteers. The experimental results revealed that the proposed approach demonstrated a similar reduction in movement error compared to the conventional stiffness approach. Moreover, participants exhibited higher movement activeness, and robotic interference with human movement was lower. The proposed approach may improve movement guidance based on stiffness control by enabling the robot to guide without inhibiting voluntary movement.
format Article
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issn 2644-1284
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher IEEE
record_format Article
series IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society
spelling doaj-art-a96ec36a56ad4d8095cf7f503d51ba1e2025-08-20T02:19:40ZengIEEEIEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society2644-12842025-01-01684085010.1109/OJIES.2025.357078911006019Minimizing Interference in Robotic Rehabilitation via Asymmetric Stiffness Force FieldsYasuhiro Kato0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8343-5314Sho Sakaino1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5182-5649Toshiaki Tsuji2Center for Education and Research in Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Tokyo, JapanFaculty of Engineering, Information and Systems, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, JapanGraduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, JapanThis article introduces a novel approach for guiding human arm movement in the context of robotic rehabilitation. We propose upper limb movement guidance using a force field based on an asymmetric stiffness matrix. By introducing asymmetry in stiffness design, the proposed force field can deflect arm movement toward the target direction of a reaching movement while minimizing impeding effects. We hypothesize that this method can guide a human in the desired direction without interfering with their voluntary movement. To evaluate the performance of the human arm guidance technique, we conducted upper limb reaching experiments using a 2-degree-of-freedom robot arm with ten healthy volunteers. The experimental results revealed that the proposed approach demonstrated a similar reduction in movement error compared to the conventional stiffness approach. Moreover, participants exhibited higher movement activeness, and robotic interference with human movement was lower. The proposed approach may improve movement guidance based on stiffness control by enabling the robot to guide without inhibiting voluntary movement.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11006019/Assistive technologymovement guidancerehabilitationroboticsstiffness control
spellingShingle Yasuhiro Kato
Sho Sakaino
Toshiaki Tsuji
Minimizing Interference in Robotic Rehabilitation via Asymmetric Stiffness Force Fields
IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society
Assistive technology
movement guidance
rehabilitation
robotics
stiffness control
title Minimizing Interference in Robotic Rehabilitation via Asymmetric Stiffness Force Fields
title_full Minimizing Interference in Robotic Rehabilitation via Asymmetric Stiffness Force Fields
title_fullStr Minimizing Interference in Robotic Rehabilitation via Asymmetric Stiffness Force Fields
title_full_unstemmed Minimizing Interference in Robotic Rehabilitation via Asymmetric Stiffness Force Fields
title_short Minimizing Interference in Robotic Rehabilitation via Asymmetric Stiffness Force Fields
title_sort minimizing interference in robotic rehabilitation via asymmetric stiffness force fields
topic Assistive technology
movement guidance
rehabilitation
robotics
stiffness control
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11006019/
work_keys_str_mv AT yasuhirokato minimizinginterferenceinroboticrehabilitationviaasymmetricstiffnessforcefields
AT shosakaino minimizinginterferenceinroboticrehabilitationviaasymmetricstiffnessforcefields
AT toshiakitsuji minimizinginterferenceinroboticrehabilitationviaasymmetricstiffnessforcefields