NY Times Article – Prosthetic Arms that Listen to the Brain

iobeid — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:15:07 +0000

Here’s a great story in the NY Times about how the Kuiken Arm technology has been progressing and expanding beyond the original patient. Seems its gotten quite sophisticated.

Emotiv – Brain Controlled Video Games

iobeid — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:56:21 +0000

Apparently, the much ballyhooed brain driven video game controller is too slow and noisy and … lame … to be of any practical use… Here’s the link.

High Tech Teaching

iobeid — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:41:59 +0000

Would you be more likely to attend lecture if you classes were run like this? Discuss…

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/us/13physics.html

Brain Controlled Toys

iobeid — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:12:47 +0000

Two brain controlled toys have been demonstrated at the 2009 consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. The reviews aren’t exactly rave, but the concept is neat and I’ll bet we’ll see more and better versions of these down the line. I first read about these here.

Matlab Coding Tips

iobeid — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:40:05 +0000

Here are two great articles from the Mathworks site. I wasn’t aware that Matlab supported object oriented programming. I foresee a giant time-suck in my immediate future as I try to master this new discovery. The “pitfalls” article is also very handy:

Matlab Object Oriented Programming (click here)
Matlab Common Pitfalls (click here)

Spinal Cord Stimulation

iobeid — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:06:35 +0000

Here is an interesting article from IEEE Spectrum on Advanced Neuromodulation Systems’ spinal pacemaker that is being used to fight chronic pain. Click here for the full story.

Brain Damage

iobeid — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:43:20 +0000

Here is an excellent article from the Washingtonian magazine about a very intelligent woman who was in a very minor fender bender car accident. Although there was hardly any damage to her car, her brain was injured and as a result she had severe chronic problems with memory and concentration. I am constantly amazed by how the brain can be simultaneously so robust and yet so delicate.

BMI Breakthrough

iobeid — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:38:10 +0000

Here is an interesting article summarizing some exciting new research from the Fetz lab at the University of Washington. They’ve gotten a monkey to control paralyzed wrist muscles using signals from the motor cortex. The summary article appears in IEEE Spectrum; the research itself was published in Nature.

Pneumatic Arm

Rich — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:57:00 +0000

This article provides complete documentation for purchasing, constructing, programming, and operating a Pneumatic Arm Truss. The PAT supports a two-degree FOM pneumatic arm for inclusion in the BMI Workbench.

System Operation

Startup

Inspect T-35HD Air Compressor Filter. Rinse with soap & water as necessary.
Inspect T-35HD air tank for water (valve on bottom of tank). Tilt tank and drain if necessary. Ensure valve is closed prior to use. (Stem will be at its longest when closed.)
Inspect LFR-D-MIDI & LF-D-5M-MIDI regulators for condensate. Release condensate if it is within 10mm below filter element by opening the lower blue plugs during system operation.
Adjust the LFR-D-MIDI regulator. Pull blue pressure setting button upwards to unlock it (away from housing). Turn pressure setting button in the ‘-’ direction as far as possible.
Place T-35HD power switch in auto position. The pump will automatically maintain between 100 – 140 PSIG.
Turn the LFR-D-MIDI pressure setting button in the ‘+’ direction until the desired pressure is shown on its manometer. (Note: The input pressure must be at least 1 bar greater than the output pressure.)
Press the the LFR-D-MIDI pressure setting button down to secure it against unintentional turning.

Operation

To Be Completed.

Shutdown

Remove supply pressure. Adjust the LFR-D-MIDI regulator. Pull blue pressure setting button upwards to unlock it (away from housing). Turn pressure setting button in the ‘-’ direction as far as possible.
Power OFF compressor
Release compressor tank pressure and excess condensate via drain valve.
Power OFF setpoint voltage
Power OFF supply voltage

Schematics

Software

videoInput

http://www.muonics.net/school/spring05/videoInput/
a free windows video capture library

AutoCAD

8020 Parts

NI

Hardware

Festo

http://www.festo.com/cms/en-us_us
1.847.759.2600
Account #20344983
Customer Service: 1.800.993.3786
Our Representative: Pat Sabharwal 1.847.759.2629 (Cell: 630.487.0479)
Tech Support: 1.866.463.3786

Component Name	Part #	Pubs	Notes
LFR-1/4-D-MIDI Filter/Regulator	186481	Specifications	Regulates the compressed air supplied to the set working pressure and compensates for fluctuations in pressure. Cleans the compressed air of dirt particles and condensed water. Filters to 40µm particles
LF-D-5M-MIDI Filter	186460	Specifications	Filters to 5µm particles Max 230 PSI (16 bar)
VPPM-6F-L-1-F-0L10H-V1N-S1 Proportional Pressure Regulator	543432	Specifications	24 VDC
VABM-P1-SF-G18-4-P3 Sub-base	542254	See VPPM-6F-L-1-F-0L10H-V1N-S1 Proportional Pressure Regulator
Sub-base Blanking Plug	3570
D-3/8I-1/2A Reducing Nipple	3585
DMSP-10-360N(or 240N) RM-RM Fluidic Muscles	541403	Manual	Max Pressure: 116 PSI (8 bar) Normal Operating Range: 0 -15% contraction Max Operating Range: 0 – 25% contraction Max Diameter (@ contraction): 22mm Connecting Thread: M8 541403 W908 Connectors Should be inspected every 500,000 strokes for cracks and blistering Service life can be increased if pressure is exhausted on opposing end from input
QSL-H-1/8-1/4-U-M Push-in/threaded L-fitting	533235	Specifications	Size Standard Nominal size 4.5 mm Type of seal on screw-in stud coating Working pressure -0.95 – 10 bar Ambient temperature 0 – 60 °C Max. tightening torque 7 Nm Product weight 14.7 g
QS-H-3/8-1/4-U-M Push-in fitting	533222	Specifications	Size Standard Nominal size 4.2 mm Type of seal on screw-in stud coating Working pressure -0.95 – 10 bar Ambient temperature 0 – 60 °C Max. tightening torque 22 Nm Product weight 26.5 g
QS-H-1/4-1/4-U-M Push-in fitting	533219
DMSP Blanking Plug	3568
ESK-1/4-1/4 Double Nipple	151521
PUN-1/4X3/64-U-BL Polyurethane Tubing	546584		150 PSI (10 bar)
SIM-M12-8GD-5-PU Plug Socket with Cable	525618		VPPM 5m Control Cable $30.11 each

8020

http://www.8020.net/
Distributer: TECO, tecoinc.com, 800.521.3285
Salesman: Jim Gordon, jgordon@tecoinc.com

Component Name	Part #	Pubs (Page #) 8020 Interactive Catalog	Notes
3060 T-Slotted Aluminum	1515	46 Specifications	Used for arm’s base 15 Series Profile Material (Based on fractional distance between grooves.) 3.0″ x 6.0″
3320 5/16-18 x 11/16 Flanged BHSCS & Economy T-Nut	3320	120
15-Series Base Plate	2130	303
Economy Anti-Vibration Mounts	2207	308
8 Hole Inside Corner Bracket	4304	127
6 Hole Inside Corner Bracket	4311	125
6 Hole Inside Corner Bracket	4301	123
4 Hole Tee Joining Plate	4341	143
1515 End Cap with Fasteners	2030	266
1530 End Cap with Fasteners	2045	266
Pivot Joint	14017	998
5/16-18 x 1″ Socket Head Cap Screws	3122	101
2 Hole Inside Corner Bracket	4302	121
Top Mount Bearing Pads	6898	337
#10 x 5/6 Pad Screw	40-3628	976
1/4″ Black Haircell ABS Panel	2313	251
3″ Single Panel Retainer	7150	397
1.5″ Single Panel Retainer	2434	242
Velcro Fastener	3273	281

National Instruments

See here.

Thomas

Ultra Air-Pac T-35HD Electric Air Compressor

3 gallon air storage
Pressure switch maintains 100 PSIG (689.5 KPa) -140 PSIG (861.9 KPa)
Air Displacement: 4.5 CFM (127 LPM) @ 0 PSI
Air Delivery: 2.9 CFM @ 50 PSI (83.5 LPM @ 345 KPa)
2.55 CFM @ 100 PSI (72.22 LPM @ 689.5 KPa)
115V, 60Hz, 10A (@ working pressure), 15A fuse
Weight: 48 lbs
Requires no lubrication (do not apply oil or damage may result)
Motor is equipped with thermal overload protector. If protector trips, the user should manually turn the pump motor off and let the system cool for 5 minutes.

Relevant Papers

Dan McCann

danm — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:49:31 +0000

Lab Personnel

Education

Montgomery County Community College

A.S. Physical Science, Major: Physics, August 2007

Temple University

B.S. Electrical Engineering, anticipated graduation date: 05/2010

Projects

Development of ‘Eye Blink’ detection circuit

Development of a test bench for a wireless, RF-powered, neuro-transmitter

Temple University Neural Instrumentation Lab