Guest Lectures by Ben Hallworth & Claudio Castellini

Ben Hallworth

A Unified Modular Platform for Assessing Novel Human-Machine Interfaces in Prosthetics

ABSTRACT

In this talk, I highlight the importance of the physical interface between a user and their prosthesis and why a close approximation to conventional prosthetic sockets is needed to accurately assess the efficacy of novel prosthetic control strategies. I will also provide a brief overview of the expanding area of closed-loop prosthetic control strategies and demonstrate how the modular socket platform, developed jointly at the BLINC Lab and DLR, facilitates exploration of these strategies while remaining representative of conventional prosthetic sockets.

SHORT BIO

I am currently completing my BSc in Mechanical (Biomedical) Engineering at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. I have been a Researcher in the Bionic Limbs for Improved Natural Control (BLINC) Lab for 3 years under Drs. Jacqueline Hebert and Patrick Pilarski and am currently a Guest Research Scientist in Dr. Castellini’s Adaptive Biointerfaces Group at the DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen. My previous work has focused on producing conventional prosthetic sockets using additive manufacturing techniques, as well as the development of upper-body exoskeletons to prevent musculo-skeletal injuries.

Claudio Castellini

Interactive (machine) learning: a key component of the HMI of the future

ABSTRACT

In this talk, I argue that interactive machine learning is a key component of a successful human/robot interaction as well as interactive “human” learning is! I will sketch the principle and show a few applications we have been testing in our lab, both in virtual and in “real” reality. Particularly, we have been dealing with myocontrol (muscle-based control of upper-limb prostheses).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVWqX02nqj8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6uI5FLB9Q4

SHORT BIO

I am a senior researcher and group leader in rehabilitation / assistive robotics, human-machine interfaces and applied machine learning. I obtained a degree in Electronic (Biomedical) Engineering in 1998 at the University of my hometown, Genoa (Italy); I then got a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence at the School of Informatics of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. After 4.5 years spent as a post-doctoral student at the Advanced Robotics Laboratory of the University of Genoa, I finally landed at the German Aerospace Center, Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics. As of now, I have (co)authored more than 100 scientific papers, I am involved in a few research projects and I have served, or am currently serving, for some editorial boards and committees.