Appointments:

• Lead Research Engineer – BLINC Lab, University of Alberta

Projects:

• The Myoelectric Training Tool (MTT)
• The Bento Arm
• brachI/Oplexus
• Sensory Feedback Systems
• BLINCdev.ca
• BLINCdev Cybathlon Team

Publications:

• J.R. Siegel, J.K. Harwood, A.C. Lau, D. J. A. Brenneis, M. R. Dawson, P. M. Pilarski, J.S. Schofield, “A performance evaluation of commercially available and 3D-printable prosthetic hands: a comparison using the anthropomorphic hand assessment protocol” BMC biomed eng 6, 11 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42490-024-00086-w (Published Copy)
• M. R. Dawson, A. S. R. Parker, H. E. Williams A. W. Shehata, J. S. Hebert, C. S. Chapman, P. M. Pilarski, “Joint Action is a Framework for Understanding Partnerships Between Humans and Upper Limb Prostheses,” 2024 10th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), 2024, pp. 605-611, doi: 10.1109/BioRob60516.2024.10719838. (Preprint PDF)
• M. Dumba, M.R. Dawson, G. Murgatroyd, P. M. Pilarski, , J. S. Hebert, and A. Shehata, “A Virtual Reality Training Environment For Myoelectric Prosthesis Grasp Control With Sensory Feedback”, MEC Symposium, Aug. 2024. (Published Copy)
• A. S. R. Parker, M. R. Dawson, P. M. Pilarski, “Continually Learned Pavlovian Signalling Without Forgetting for Human-in-the-Loop Robotic Control,” NeurIPS 2022 Workshop on Human in the Loop Learning, 2022, 11 pages. arXiv:2305.14365 [cs.LG] (Preprint PDF)
• E. D. Wells, A.W. Shehata, M. R. Dawson, J. P. Carey, “Preliminary Evaluation of the Effect of Mechanotactile Feedback Location on Myoelectric Prosthesis Performance Using a Sensorized Prosthetic Hand,” Sensors 22, no. 10: 3892. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22103892. (Published Copy)
• H. E. Williams, A. W. Shehata, M. R. Dawson, E. Scheme, J. S. Hebert, P. M. Pilarski, “Recurrent Convolutional Neural Networks as an Approach to Position-Aware Myoelectric Prosthesis Control,” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 2022 . doi: 10.1109/TBME.2022.3140269. (Published Copy)
• Q. A. Boser, M. R. Dawson, J. S. Schofield, G.Y. Dziwenko, J. S. Hebert, “Defining the design requirements for an assistive powered hand exoskeleton: A pilot explorative interview study and case series,” Prosthetics and Orthotics International. 2020;0(0). doi:10.1177/0309364620963943. (Published Copy)
• M. R. Dawson, H. E. Williams, G. Murgatroyd, J. S. Hebert, P. M. Pilarski, “brachIOplexus: Myoelectric Training Software for Clinical and Research Applications,” Myoelectric Control Symposium (MEC), 2020. (Published Copy)
• E. D. Wells, S. Carpenter, M. R. Dawson, A. W. Shehata, J. P. Carey, J. S. Hebert, “Development of a Modular Simulated Prosthesis and Evaluation of a Compliant Grip Force Sensor,” Myoelectric Control Symposium (MEC), 2020. (Published Copy)
• B. W. Hallworth, A. W. Shehata, M. R. Dawson, F. Sperle, M. Connan, W. Friedl, B. Vodermayer, C. Castellini, J. S. Hebert, P. M. Pilarski, “A Transradial Modular Adaptable Platform for Evaluating Prosthetic Feedback and Control Strategies,” Myoelectric Control Symposium (MEC), 2020. (Published Copy)
• J. Günther, N. M. Ady, A. Kearney, M. R. Dawson, P. M. Pilarski, “Examining the Use of Temporal-Difference Incremental Delta-Bar-Delta for Real-World Predictive Knowledge Architectures,” Frontiers in Robotics and AI, vol. 7, no. 34, 2020, DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2020.00034. (Published copy)
• D. J. A. Brenneis, M. R. Dawson, H. Tanikawa, J. S. Hebert, J. P. Carey, P M. Pilarski, “The Effect of an Automatically Levelling Wrist Control System,” 2019 IEEE-RAS-EMBS International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), 24-28 June, 2019, Toronto, Canada, pp. 816-823. (Preprint PDF)
• J. Gunther, A. Kearney, M. R. Dawson, C. Sherstan, P. M. Pilarski, “Predictions, Surprise, and Predictions of Surprise in General Value Function Architectures,” Proceedings of the AAAI 2018 Fall Symposium on Reasoning and Learning in Real-World Systems for Long-Term Autonomy, Arlington, Virginia, October 18-20, 2018, pp. 22–29. (PDF)
• D. J. A. Brenneis, M. R. Dawson, G. Murgatroyd, J. P. Carey, P. M. Pilarski, “Initial Investigation of a Self-Adjusting Wrist Control System to Maintain Prosthesis Terminal Device Orientation Relative to the Ground Reference Frame,” 7th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), August 26-29, Enschede, The Netherlands, 2018, pp. 756–763.(Preprint PDF)
• P.D. Marasco, J.S. Hebert, J.W. Sensinger, C.E. Shell, J.S. Schofield, Z.C Thumser, R. Nataraj, D.T. Beckler, M.R. Dawson, D.H. Bluestein, S. Gill, B.D. Mensh, R. Granja-Vazquez, M.D. Newcomb, J.P. Carey, B.M. Orzell, “Illusory movement perception improves motor control for prosthetic hands,” Science Translational Medicine, 14 March 2018, Vol. 10, Issue 432, eaao6990, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aao6990. (Read Online, PDF)
• D.J. Brenneis, M.R. Dawson, P.M. Pilarski, “Development of the Handi Hand: an Inexpensive, Multi-articulating, Sensorized Hand for Machine Learning Research in Myoelectric Control,” MEC17: Myoelectric Controls Symposium, Fredericton, New Brunswick, August 14-18, 2017. (Preprint PDF)
• T.G. Kuus, M.R. Dawson, K.S. Schoepp, J.P. Carey, J.S. Hebert, “Development of a Simulated Sensory Motor Prosthesis: A Device to Research Prosthetic Sensory Feedback Using Able-Bodied Individuals,” MEC17: Myoelectric Controls Symposium, Fredericton, New Brunswick, August 14-18, 2017. (PDF)
• G.W. Melenka, B.K.O. Cheung, J.S. Schofield, M.R. Dawson, J.P. Carey, “Evaluation and prediction of the tensile properties of continuous fiber-reinforced 3D printed structures”, Composite Structures, Volume 153, 1 October 2016, Pages 866-875, ISSN 0263-822. (Preprint PDF)
• J.S. Hebert, K.M. Chan, M.R. Dawson, “Cutaneous sensory outcomes from three transhumeral targeted reinnervation cases,” Prosthetics & Orthotics International. June 2016, doi: 10.1177/0309364616633919.
• A. L. Edwards, M. R. Dawson, J. S. Hebert, C. Sherstan, R. S. Sutton, K. M. Chan, P. M. Pilarski, “Application of Real-time Machine Learning to Myoelectric Prosthesis Control: A Case Series in Adaptive Switching,” Prosthetics & Orthotics International. Published online before print September 30, 2015, doi: 10.1177/0309364615605373.
• Schofield JS, Dawson MR, Carey JP, Hebert JS, 2014. “Characterizing the effects of amplitude, frequency and limb position on vibration induced movement illusions: Implications in sensory-motor rehabilitation.“, Technology and Health Care. 2015, Jan; 23(2): 129–41.
• M.R. Dawson, C. Sherstan, J.P. Carey, J.S. Hebert, P.M. Pilarski, “Development of the Bento Arm: An Improved Robotic Arm for Myoelectric Training and Research,” MEC14: Myoelectric Controls Symposium, Fredericton, New Brunswick, August 18-22, 2014. (Preprint PDF)
• J.S. Hebert, K.M. Chan, M.R. Dawson, “Comparative Sensory Outcomes for Three Transhumeral Targeted Reinnervation Cases”. MEC14: Myoelectric Controls Symposium, Fredericton, New Brunswick, August 18-22, 2014.
• A.L. Edwards, M.R. Dawson, J.S. Hebert, R.S. Sutton, K.M. Chan, P.M. Pilarski, “Adaptive Switching in Practice: Improving Myoelectric Prosthesis Performance through Reinforcement Learning,”  MEC14: Myoelectric Controls Symposium, Fredericton, New Brunswick, August 18-22, 2014. (Preprint PDF)
• G.W. Melenka, J.S. Schofield, M.R. Dawson, J.P. Carey, “Evaluation of Dimensional Accuracy and Material Properties of the MakerBot 3D Desktop Printer,”Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 21 Issue:5, pp.618-627, doi: 10.1108/RPJ-09-2013-0093
• J.S. Hebert, J.L. Olson, M.J. Morhart M.R. Dawson, P.D. Marasco, T.A. Kuiken, K.M. Chan, , “Novel Targeted Sensory Reinnervation Technique to Restore Functional Hand Sensation after Transhumeral Amputation,” IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. 2014, Jul; 22(4): 765–773.
• A.L. Edwards, A. Kearney, M.R. Dawson, R.S. Sutton, and P.M. Pilarski, “Temporal-Difference Learning to Assist Human Decision Making during the Control of an Artificial Limb,” 1st Multidisciplinary Conference on Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making (RLDM), Oct. 25-27, Princeton, New Jersey, USA, 2013. (PDF)(arXiv:1309.4714)
• P.M. Pilarski, M.R. Dawson, T. Degris, J.P. Carey, K.M. Chan, J.S. Hebert, R.S. Sutton, , “Adaptive Artificial Limbs: A Real-Time Approach to Prediction and Anticipation,” IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine, vol. 20, no.1, pp. 53–64, March 2013. (Postprint PDF)
• P.M. Pilarski, M.R. Dawson, T. Degris, J.P. Carey, and R.S. Sutton, “Dynamic Switching and Real-time Machine Learning for Improved Human Control of Assistive Biomedical Robots,” Proceedings of the 4th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), June 24-27, Roma, Italy, pp. 296-302, 2012. (Preprint PDF)
• M.R. Dawson, F. Fahimi, J. P. Carey, “The Development of a Myoelectric Training Tool for Above-Elbow Amputees,” The Open Biomedical Engineering Journal, 6:5–15, 2012. (Read Online, PDF)
• M.R. Dawson, J. P. Carey, F. Fahimi, “Review of Myoelectric Training Systems,” Expert Reviews of Medical Devices,Vol.8, No.5, Pages 581-589, 2011.
• P.M. Pilarski, M.R. Dawson, T. Degris, F. Fahimi, J.P. Carey, and R.S. Sutton, “Online Human Training of a Myoelectric Prosthesis Controller via Actor-Critic Reinforcement Learning,” Proc. of the 2011 IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, Zurich, Switzerland, pp. 134-140, June 29–July 1, 2011. (Preprint PDF)

View Rory’s MSc thesis here.