Device Development

Several of the projects in the BLINC lab require custom-built prototypes, to meet specific requirements that are unavailable commercially. Many of our designs involve the use of 3D printers which allow design flexibility and rapid production turn-arounds. We also develop custom electronics using both commercial microcontroller boards and custom print circuit boards.

Funding

This work was partially supported by the Alberta Innovates Centre for Machine Learning (AICML) and the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii).

Publications

The Bento Arm

  The original Myoelectric Training Tool (MTT) is both functional and inexpensive, but has an un-anatomical appearance and limited payload. To overcome these issues an improved robotic arm, called the “Bento Arm”, was designed specifically for myoelectric training and research applications. The Bento Arm includes five (5) degrees of freedom (shoulder rotation, elbow flexion, wrist … Continue reading The Bento Arm

The Handi Hand

  The Humanoid, Anthropometric, Naturally Dextrous Intelligent (HANDi) Hand is an inexpensive, 3D printed multi-articulating hand. It was developed at the BLINC Lab to facilitate machine learning research that aims to provide more intuitive control of prosthetic limbs, since commercially available prostheses are expensive, difficult to modify, and do not allow for sensing capabilities. The … Continue reading The Handi Hand

The Myoelectric Training Tool

  The Myoelectric Training Tool (MTT) was developed by Michael (Rory) Dawson, BLINC Lab Research Engineer, with the support of a clinical research grant from the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. This robotic arm has five degrees of freedom to mimic the functionality of commercial myoelectric prostheses including hand open/close, wrist rotation, wrist flexion/extension, elbow flexion/extension, and … Continue reading The Myoelectric Training Tool