Neuromotor Control of Human Movement and Physical Human-Robot Interaction
Hyunglae Lee, assistant professor, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy
Friday, February 19, 2016
9:30 a.m.
Schwada Classroom Office Building (SCOB) 201, Tempe campus [map]
Abstract
Recent advances in robotics and related technology enable the use of robots in domains from manufacturing, services and defense to healthcare and many more. The potential impact of robots is growing and their possible applications seem unbounded. However, robots are still not as capable as humans in interaction with dynamic environments. How do humans exceed state-of-the-art robots and exhibit such astonishing dexterity and adaptability in a variety of environments? Hyunglae Lee believes the answer lies in the unique characteristics of human motor control, and insight to overcome the current limitation of robots, especially robots physically interacting with humans, can be gained by studying the neuromechanical control of human movement.
In this talk, Lee will present his recent efforts to characterize two important mechanisms in human motor control: mechanical impedance and reflex feedback mechanism. First, he will present the quantitative characterization of human ankle mechanical impedance using a wearable ankle robot, followed by its extension to other human joints, such as the human wrist and elbow. Next, he will present the investigation of distinct functional roles of long-latency stretch reflexes, an integral component of the reflex feedback mechanism, using haptic robots. Lee will also address the recent study of how the integrity of the functional roles of the long-latency reflex is affected as a consequence of cortical lesions following stroke. At the end of the presentation, he will briefly share current research activities in the Neuromuscular Control and Human Robotics Laboratory to better understand control of posture and movement and advance physical human-robot interaction.
Bio
Hyunglae Lee received his doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Then, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC). Previously, he also worked at Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and LG Electronics. His research interests focus on physical human-robot interaction, neuromuscular control of human movement, and robot-aided neurorehabilitation. He was a recipient of Samsung Scholarship. Learn more at semte.engineering.asu.edu/lee-hyunglae
This seminar is organized jointly by the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy and the Polytechnic School.
