Abstract: A comprehensive system for treatment of wrist joint proprioception. The system includes a manipulandum unit and a controller. The unit includes a base, a handle, a linkage assembly, and motors. The base supports a subject's forearm, and the handle is gripped by the palm. The linkage assembly connects the handle to the base, and establishes three DOFs. The motors are operatively connected to the linkage assembly. The controller is programmed to actuate, and receive feedback information from, each of the plurality of motors. Further, the controller is programmed to perform wrist proprioception assessment operations by actuating the plurality of motors to effectuate movement of the handle relative to the base in a prescribed manner indicative of position motion sense acuity as an objective measure of wrist proprioception functioning. The controller is optionally further programmed to perform rehabilitation training via controlled operation of the unit and a virtually reality environment.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator comprising a moving armature (41) comprising a pin (43) and a permanent magnet arrangement (45) arranged coaxially with the pin (43) and secured to it, and an excitation coil arrangement (42) arranged coaxially with the pin (43). The coil arrangement (42) is suppliable with a current to cause a movement of the movable armature (41). The actuator further comprises a surface (51) of ferromagnetic material. The permanent magnet arrangement (45) is axially interposed between the surface (51) of ferromagnetic material and the excitation coil arrangement (42). The permanent magnet arrangement (45) comprises a plurality of permanent magnet regions (45a) arranged around the pin (43) of the moving armature (41), wherein each permanent magnet region (45a) has a polarity opposite to the polarities of the permanent magnet regions (45a) angularly adjacent thereto. The excitation coil arrangement (42) comprises a coil having a lobed shape.

Abstract: A comprehensive system for treatment of wrist joint proprioception. The system includes a manipulandum unit and a controller. The unit includes a base, a handle, a linkage assembly, and motors. The base supports a subject's forearm, and the handle is gripped by the palm. The linkage assembly connects the handle to the base, and establishes three DOFs. The motors are operatively connected to the linkage assembly. The controller is programmed to actuate, and receive feedback information from, each of the plurality of motors. Further, the controller is programmed to perform wrist proprioception assessment operations by actuating the plurality of motors to effectuate movement of the handle relative to the base in a prescribed manner indicative of position motion sense acuity as an objective measure of wrist proprioception functioning. The controller is optionally further programmed to perform rehabilitation training via controlled operation of the unit and a virtually reality environment.

Abstract: A comprehensive system for treatment of wrist joint proprioception. The system includes a manipulandum unit and a controller. The unit includes a base, a handle, a linkage assembly, and motors. The base supports a subject's forearm, and the handle is gripped by the palm. The linkage assembly connects the handle to the base, and establishes three DOFs. The motors are operatively connected to the linkage assembly. The controller is programmed to actuate, and receive feedback information from, each of the plurality of motors. Further, the controller is programmed to perform wrist proprioception assessment operations by actuating the plurality of motors to effectuate movement of the handle relative to the base in a prescribed manner indicative of position motion sense acuity as an objective measure of wrist proprioception functioning. The controller is optionally further programmed to perform rehabilitation training via controlled operation of the unit and a virtually reality environment.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator comprising a moving armature (41) comprising a pin (43) and a permanent magnet arrangement (45) arranged coaxially with the pin (43) and secured to it, and an excitation coil arrangement (42) arranged coaxially with the pin (43). The coil arrangement (42) is suppliable with a current to cause a movement of the movable armature (41). The actuator further comprises a surface (51) of ferromagnetic material. The permanent magnet arrangement (45) is axially interposed between the surface (51) of ferromagnetic material and the excitation coil arrangement (42). The permanent magnet arrangement (45) comprises a plurality of permanent magnet regions (45a) arranged around the pin (43) of the moving armature (41), wherein each permanent magnet region (45a) has a polarity opposite to the polarities of the permanent magnet regions (45a) angularly adjacent thereto. The excitation coil arrangement (42) comprises a coil having a lobed shape.

Abstract: An intracortical-detection device including: at least one electrode that contacts a group of neurons; a first body, forming a surface that contacts a portion of a cerebral region; a first motor that moves the electrode with respect to the first body; a second motor; and a second body, operatively connected to the second motor, the first and second bodies being able to slide with respect to one another in a first direction, under the action of the second motor. The detection device moreover includes a sensor generating an electrical signal indicating a pressure exerted by the portion of cerebral region on the surface.

Abstract: A haptic interface system comprising: a shell which is moved on a reference surface by a user; an actuator mechanically coupled to the shell, which provides a haptic stimulus on a fingertip of the user; and a motor assembly, which moves the actuator with three degrees of freedom. The haptic interface system also includes: a localization system, which determines the position and orientation of the shell with respect to the reference surface; and a control stage, which controls the motor assembly so as to move the actuator as a function of the position of the shell, in an invariant manner with respect to the orientation of the shell.

Abstract: A comprehensive system for treatment of wrist joint proprioception. The system includes a manipulandum unit and a controller. The unit includes a base, a handle, a linkage assembly, and motors. The base supports a subject's forearm, and the handle is gripped by the palm. The linkage assembly connects the handle to the base, and establishes three DOFs. The motors are operatively connected to the linkage assembly. The controller is programmed to actuate, and receive feedback information from, each of the plurality of motors. Further, the controller is programmed to perform wrist proprioception assessment operations by actuating the plurality of motors to effectuate movement of the handle relative to the base in a prescribed manner indicative of position motion sense acuity as an objective measure of wrist proprioception functioning. The controller is optionally further programmed to perform rehabilitation training via controlled operation of the unit and a virtually reality environment.

Abstract: A tactile control arrangement (10) for at least one electronic device (W, P) including a touch control interface (12) based on a capacitive sensor matrix (S) and a electronic processing module (16) associated to the sensor matrix (S) and arranged to receive therefrom a plurality of electrical signals indicative of the touch or the pressure of an external body on at least one sensor (S) of the matrix and consequent commands to be transmitted towards the above-mentioned electronic device (W, P) is described. The sensor matrix (S) comprises a plurality of active sensor electrodes (E) and a corresponding plurality of conductive tracks (T) for the connection of the active electrodes (E) with the processing module (16).

Abstract: A sensory system for a robot comprises a plurality of tactile sensor arrangements (10), each of which includes a flexible planar substrate (12) adapted to form the coating of a robot body, carrying a plurality of pressure sensing devices (14), and an associated signal acquisition microcircuit (16), so arranged as to acquire electrical signals indicative of the contact with an external object (O) or environment from the plurality of sensing devices (14). The microcircuit (16) faces a serial communication bus (B) shared by a plurality of associated arrangements, so as to provide the signals acquired by the plurality of arrangements to an external microcontroller processing unit (40). The sensor arrangement comprises a single input connection port (18?) of the communication bus, and at least one output connection port (18?) of the communication bus, adapted to define a branched path of the bus (B) through said plurality of associated arrangements.

Abstract: A tactile control arrangement (10) for at least one electronic device (W, P) including a touch control interface (12) based on a capacitive sensor matrix (S) and a electronic processing module (16) associated to the sensor matrix (S) and arranged to receive therefrom a plurality of electrical signals indicative of the touch or the pressure of an external body on at least one sensor (S) of the matrix and consequent commands to be transmitted towards the above-mentioned electronic device (W, P) is described. The sensor matrix (S) comprises a plurality of active sensor electrodes (E) and a corresponding plurality of conductive tracks (T) for the connection of the active electrodes (E) with the processing module (16).

Abstract: A polymeric actuator includes a first and a second electrode layer (2, 3), both containing electrically conductive material and able to change size in at least one direction of deformation under the action of charge injection or ion intercalation. A solid polymer electrolyte layer (4) is interposed between the first and the second electrode layer, in which the solid polymer electrolyte layer is electrically insulating and ionically conductive. The actuator is able to deform by the action of the dimensional changes of the first and second electrode layer. The actuator further includes a passive electrode (5) immersed in the solid electrolyte layer to be electrically insulated relative to the first and second electrode layer, in which the passive electrode is electrically conductive and elastically deformable material, so as to support mechanically the deformations of the actuator induced by the dimensional changes of the first and second electrode layer.

Abstract: An intracortical-detection device including: at least one electrode (6) that contacts a group of neurons; a first body (3), forming a surface (30) that contacts a portion of a cerebral region; a first motor (8) that moves the electrode with respect to the first body; a second motor (10); and a second body (4), operatively connected to the second motor, the first and second bodies being able to slide with respect to one another in a first direction (x), under the action of the second motor. The detection device moreover includes a sensor (42, 44, 55) generating an electrical signal indicating a pressure exerted by the portion of cerebral region on the surface.

Abstract: An open-structure magnetic assembly is adapted to generate a homogeneous magnetic field in an accessible space region, including a first and second independent source of magnetic field (10, 12), each generating a contribution to the resulting magnetic field. The first source includes a conducting or superconducting plate (20), carrying an unidirectional current flow (I) from an input side (22) to an output side (24) and at least one external current recirculating path (30) between the output side (24) and the input side (22) of the plate. The second source includes a volume of magnetized material or an arrangement of coils, arranged for generating a magnetic field component oriented according to the magnetic field generated by the first source (10), and whose intensity exhibits a gradient in a direction perpendicular to the conducting plate (20) adapted to compensate, in a region of interest, an opposite gradient in the magnetic field intensity generated by the first source (10).

Abstract: A polymeric actuator includes a first and a second electrode layer (2, 3), both containing electrically conductive material and able to change size in at least one direction of deformation under the action of charge injection or ion intercalation. A solid polymer electrolyte layer (4) is interposed between the first and the second electrode layer, in which the solid polymer electrolyte layer is electrically insulating and ionically conductive. The actuator is able to deform by the action of the dimensional changes of the first and second electrode layer. The actuator further includes a passive electrode (5) immersed in the solid electrolyte layer to be electrically insulated relative to the first and second electrode layer, in which the passive electrode is electrically conductive and elastically deformable material, so as to support mechanically the deformations of the actuator induced by the dimensional changes of the first and second electrode layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayer polymeric actuator includes the following steps: arranging a rotating winding core; winding a dielectric film of polymeric material around the winding core; during winding, applying a conductive material on the dielectric film exposed face, in which the application occurs intermittently according to a pre-established sequence, and according to a first and a second geometrical application pattern mutually alternated at each winding turn, so as to form a roll; radially cutting the roll at the ends of a circumferentially localized zone; and connecting a conductive material layers having the first geometrical application pattern one to the other and the conductive material layers having the second geometrical application pattern one to the other.

Abstract: An open-structure magnetic assembly is adapted to generate a homogeneous magnetic field in an accessible space region, including a first and second independent source of magnetic field (10, 12), each generating a contribution to the resulting magnetic field. The first source includes a conducting or superconducting plate (20), carrying an unidirectional current flow (I) from an input side (22) to an output side (24) and at least one external current recirculating path (30) between the output side (24) and the input side (22) of the plate. The second source includes a volume of magnetized material or an arrangement of coils, arranged for generating a magnetic field component oriented according to the magnetic field generated by the first source (10), and whose intensity exhibits a gradient in a direction perpendicular to the conducting plate (20) adapted to compensate, in a region of interest, an opposite gradient in the magnetic field intensity generated by the first source (10).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayer polymeric actuator comprises the following steps: arranging a rotating winding core (C); winding a dielectric film (10) of polymeric material around the winding core; during winding, applying a conductive material on the dielectric film exposed face (10c), in which the application occurs intermittently according to a pre-established sequence, and according to a first and a second geometrical application patterns (11, 12) mutually alternated at each winding turn, so as to form a roll comprising at least one circumferentially localized zone (15) formed by dielectric film layers radially alternated to conductive material layers; radially cutting the roll at the ends of the circumferentially localized zone, so as to be able to take out a corresponding stack (15?); and connecting the conductive material layers having the first geometrical application pattern one to the other and the conductive material layers having the second geometrical application pattern one to the other

Abstract: A sensory system for a robot comprises a plurality of tactile sensor arrangements (10), each of which includes a flexible planar substrate (12) adapted to form the coating of a robot body, carrying a plurality of pressure sensing devices (14), and an associated signal acquisition microcircuit (16), so arranged as to acquire electrical signals indicative of the contact with an external object (O) or environment from the plurality of sensing devices (14). The microcircuit (16) faces a serial communication bus (B) shared by a plurality of associated arrangements, so as to provide the signals acquired by the plurality of arrangements to an external microcontroller processing unit (40). The sensor arrangement comprises a single input connection port (18?) of the communication bus, and at least one output connection port (18?) of the communication bus, adapted to define a branched path of the bus (B) through said plurality of associated arrangements.

Abstract: A sensor array is described comprising a substantially constant resolution portion comprising a first series of first concentric closed rings, each first closed ring comprising a monodimensional array of equally spaced sensor element location sites, each location site including at aleast one sensor element; and a spatially variant portion comprising a second series of second concentric closed rings, the second series being concentric with the first series and each second closed ring comprising a monodimensional array of equally spaced sensor element location sites, each location site having at least one sensor element, the spatially variant portion surrounding or being surrounded by the substantially constant resolution portion, and the density of sensor element location sites continuously increasing or decreasing between the substantially constant resolution portion and the spatially variant portion.