Conception of a System-on-Chip (SoC) Platform to Enable EMG-Guided Robotic Neurorehabilitation
Electromyography (EMG) signals are fundamental in neurorehabilitation as they provide a non-invasive means of capturing the electrical activity of muscles, enabling precise detection of motor intentions. This capability is essential for controlling assistive devices, such as therapeutic exoskeletons...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/1699 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850081975470129152 |
|---|---|
| author | Rubén Nieto Pedro R. Fernández Santiago Murano Victor M. Navarro Antonio J. del-Ama Susana Borromeo |
| author_facet | Rubén Nieto Pedro R. Fernández Santiago Murano Victor M. Navarro Antonio J. del-Ama Susana Borromeo |
| author_sort | Rubén Nieto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electromyography (EMG) signals are fundamental in neurorehabilitation as they provide a non-invasive means of capturing the electrical activity of muscles, enabling precise detection of motor intentions. This capability is essential for controlling assistive devices, such as therapeutic exoskeletons, that aim to restore mobility and improve motor function in patients with neuromuscular impairments. The integration of EMG into neurorehabilitation systems allows for adaptive and patient-specific interventions, addressing the variability in motor recovery needs. However, achieving the high fidelity, low latency, and robustness required for real-time control of these devices remains a significant challenge. This paper introduces a novel multi-channel electromyography (EMG) acquisition system implemented on a System-on-Chip (SoC) architecture for robotic neurorehabilitation. The system employs the Zynq-7000 SoC, which integrates an Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) processor, for high-level control and an FPGA for real-time signal processing. The architecture enables precise synchronization of up to eight EMG channels, leveraging high-speed analog-to-digital conversion and advanced filtering techniques implemented directly at the measurement site. By performing filtering and initial signal processing locally, prior to transmission to other subsystems, the system minimizes noise both through optimized processing and by reducing the distance to the muscle, thereby significantly enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A dedicated communication interface ensures low-latency data transfer to external controllers, crucial for adaptive control loops in exoskeletal applications. Experimental results validate the system’s capability to deliver high signal fidelity and low processing delays, outperforming commercial alternatives in terms of flexibility and scalability. This implementation provides a robust foundation for real-time bio-signal processing, advancing the integration of EMG-based control in neurorehabilitation devices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e002274e4856441c83055a964a86566c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-e002274e4856441c83055a964a86566c2025-08-20T02:44:36ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-02-01154169910.3390/app15041699Conception of a System-on-Chip (SoC) Platform to Enable EMG-Guided Robotic NeurorehabilitationRubén Nieto0Pedro R. Fernández1Santiago Murano2Victor M. Navarro3Antonio J. del-Ama4Susana Borromeo5Electronic Technology Area, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, SpainElectronic Technology Area, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, SpainElectronic Technology Area, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, SpainElectronics Department, University of Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, SpainElectronic Technology Area, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, SpainElectronic Technology Area, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, SpainElectromyography (EMG) signals are fundamental in neurorehabilitation as they provide a non-invasive means of capturing the electrical activity of muscles, enabling precise detection of motor intentions. This capability is essential for controlling assistive devices, such as therapeutic exoskeletons, that aim to restore mobility and improve motor function in patients with neuromuscular impairments. The integration of EMG into neurorehabilitation systems allows for adaptive and patient-specific interventions, addressing the variability in motor recovery needs. However, achieving the high fidelity, low latency, and robustness required for real-time control of these devices remains a significant challenge. This paper introduces a novel multi-channel electromyography (EMG) acquisition system implemented on a System-on-Chip (SoC) architecture for robotic neurorehabilitation. The system employs the Zynq-7000 SoC, which integrates an Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) processor, for high-level control and an FPGA for real-time signal processing. The architecture enables precise synchronization of up to eight EMG channels, leveraging high-speed analog-to-digital conversion and advanced filtering techniques implemented directly at the measurement site. By performing filtering and initial signal processing locally, prior to transmission to other subsystems, the system minimizes noise both through optimized processing and by reducing the distance to the muscle, thereby significantly enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A dedicated communication interface ensures low-latency data transfer to external controllers, crucial for adaptive control loops in exoskeletal applications. Experimental results validate the system’s capability to deliver high signal fidelity and low processing delays, outperforming commercial alternatives in terms of flexibility and scalability. This implementation provides a robust foundation for real-time bio-signal processing, advancing the integration of EMG-based control in neurorehabilitation devices.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/1699SoC architecturesneurorehabilitationEMGrehabilitation roboticshuman–machine interactionsensor integration |
| spellingShingle | Rubén Nieto Pedro R. Fernández Santiago Murano Victor M. Navarro Antonio J. del-Ama Susana Borromeo Conception of a System-on-Chip (SoC) Platform to Enable EMG-Guided Robotic Neurorehabilitation Applied Sciences SoC architectures neurorehabilitation EMG rehabilitation robotics human–machine interaction sensor integration |
| title | Conception of a System-on-Chip (SoC) Platform to Enable EMG-Guided Robotic Neurorehabilitation |
| title_full | Conception of a System-on-Chip (SoC) Platform to Enable EMG-Guided Robotic Neurorehabilitation |
| title_fullStr | Conception of a System-on-Chip (SoC) Platform to Enable EMG-Guided Robotic Neurorehabilitation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conception of a System-on-Chip (SoC) Platform to Enable EMG-Guided Robotic Neurorehabilitation |
| title_short | Conception of a System-on-Chip (SoC) Platform to Enable EMG-Guided Robotic Neurorehabilitation |
| title_sort | conception of a system on chip soc platform to enable emg guided robotic neurorehabilitation |
| topic | SoC architectures neurorehabilitation EMG rehabilitation robotics human–machine interaction sensor integration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/1699 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rubennieto conceptionofasystemonchipsocplatformtoenableemgguidedroboticneurorehabilitation AT pedrorfernandez conceptionofasystemonchipsocplatformtoenableemgguidedroboticneurorehabilitation AT santiagomurano conceptionofasystemonchipsocplatformtoenableemgguidedroboticneurorehabilitation AT victormnavarro conceptionofasystemonchipsocplatformtoenableemgguidedroboticneurorehabilitation AT antoniojdelama conceptionofasystemonchipsocplatformtoenableemgguidedroboticneurorehabilitation AT susanaborromeo conceptionofasystemonchipsocplatformtoenableemgguidedroboticneurorehabilitation |