RoboAppEE
Robot assistance system for fast and highly precise application of multi-channel EEG assemblies
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Intelligent robot skills for medical technology applications
OBJECTIVES
The number of cases in the field of mental and neurological disorders is constantly increasing. In most cases, the diagnosis required for treatment is based on an electroencephalogram (EEG). It would be of great advantage to record the EEG in an individualized, long-term and inconspicuous manner in everyday life. Due to technological limitations, however, this is currently only insufficiently possible. RoboAppEE combines medical knowledge and experience with the technical possibilities of a machine. The goal is an interactive system in which the human graphically specifies the electrode positions for recording the EEG and the robot performs the application on the head.
INNOVATION & METHODOLOGY
The prerequisite for this approach is a light-curing polymer electrode that is highly conductive when cured and adheres tightly to the scalp. A user-centered applicator is being developed for the robotic arm that lightly partitions the scalp hair, fixes the lead-off cable, applies a drop of liquid electrode and cures with blue light. Sensor technology and software to be developed capture the head shape, optimize the cabling, and enable sensitive movements of the robotic arm for application. The robot-based electrode application offers for the first time the possibility of an individualized installation of up to 128 polymer EEG electrodes - fast, reproducible and unobtrusive.
OUR CONTRIBUTION
Gestalt Robotics takes over the definition of the requirements and the user-centered design of the overall system together with the partners. Primarily, Gestalt Robotics is responsible for the technical development of the assistance functions, which do not exclusively concern the hand applicator. In particular, an interactive collaboration takes place in the development of the effector design with applicator, software interface and the construction and testing of the overall system. In the overall project, Gestalt Robotics is thus responsible for providing and designing software functions for 3D measurement of the head geometry and for safe haptic application of the electrodes.
© PetESys UG
Key facts
3D Reconstruction
Guiding depth cameras through the robot
Recording of point clouds of the aptient
Generation of individual head models
Tactile Robot Skills
Implementation of compliance control
Development of application skills for fastening EEG assembly
Path Planning
Automatic distribution of application points based on the head model
Detection and avoidance of obstacles
Human and Robot
High requirement for personal safety
Individual robot behavior
Interaction design for medical device
PartnerS & CONSORTIUM
PetESys UG
Project management, participation in the joint creation of the requirements and the conception of the components and the overall system, development of the application unit in coordination with the partners, medical-clinical consulting of the consortium
YOUSE GmbH
Target group and requirements analyses as well as focus on analysis of ethical, legal and social implications ("ELSI"), user-centered requirements analysis with users by means of methods, definition of the usage concept, testing of all components of the overall system with regard to haptics and acceptance by means of usability tests, regular survey of the ELSI aspects during the course of the project and comparison of the development steps with the surveyed requirements
Funding
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Program
“Innovative Start-ups für Mensch-Technik-Interaktion (StartMTI)”
Duration
12.2020 – 11.2023
Project Management Agency
VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH
ProjeCt poster
Project poster (German) as printable PDF
This project is/was financed with funding provided by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the “Innovative Start-ups für Mensch-Technik-Interaktion (StartMTI)” program and managed by the Project Management Agency VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH. The author is responsible for the content of this publication.