Human Cooperative Wearable Robotic Systems

A Special Issue organized by
FEI CHEN, ZHIJUN LI, C.L. PHILIP CHEN AND SOS AGAIAN

Published Papers

F. Chen, Z. Li, C. L. P. Chen, and S. Agaian, "Introduction to the Special Issue on Human Cooperative Wearable Robotic Systems,” IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 466–468, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2017.2771119.

J. Carriere, M. Khadem, C. Rossa, N. Usmani, R. Sloboda, and M. Tavakoli, “Surgeon-in-the-loop 3D needle steer- ing through ultrasound-guided feedback control,” IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 469–476, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2017.2768122.

T. Lehmann, R. Sloboda, N. Usmani, and M. Tavakoli, “Human-machine collaboration modalities for semi- automated needle insertion into soft tissue,” IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 477–483, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2017.2768123.

J. Ortiz, T. Poliero, G. Cairoli, E. Graf, and D. Caldwell, “Energy efficiency analysis and design optimization of an actuation system in a soft modular lower limb exoskeleton,” IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 484–491, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2017.2768119.

S. Toxiri, A. Calanca, J. Ortiz, P. Fiorini, and D. Caldwell, “A parallel-elastic actuator for a torque-controlled back-support exoskeleton,” IEEE Robot. Au- tom. Lett., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 492–499, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2017.2768120.

L. Randazzo, I. Iturrate, S. Perdikis, and J. d. R. Mil- lan, “mano: A wearable hand exoskeleton for activities of daily living and neurorehabilitation,” IEEE Robot. Au- tom. Lett., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 500–507, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2017.2771329.

P. Agarwal and A. D. Deshpande, “Subject-specific assist-as-needed controllers for a hand exoskeleton for rehabilitation,” IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 508– 515, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2017.2768124.

F. Romano et al., “The CoDyCo project achievements and beyond: Towards human aware whole-body controllers for physical human robot interaction,” IEEE Robot. Au- tom. Lett., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 516–523, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2017.2768126.

F. Chinello, C. Pacchierotti, J. Bimbo, N. G. Tsagarakis, and D. Prattichizzo, “Design and evaluation of a wearable skin stretch device for haptic guidance,” IEEE Robot. Au-tom. Lett., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 524–531, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2017.2766244.

J. Xu, C. Li, H. Zhang, J. Li, H. Jin, W. Qu, and L. Sun, “A pilot study based on cerebral hemoglobin information to classify the desired walking speed,” IEEE Robot. Autom. Lett., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 532–536, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2017.2765002.

Overview

Intelligent techniques foster the dissemination of new discoveries and novel technologies that advance the ability of robotics to assist and support humans. Intelligent robots aim to understand the increasingly coupled relationships between human and machine. With the increasing trend towards home service and health care, we are faced with a need for improved control systems of human-centered assistive and rehabilitation robots capable of performing in the unstructured environments. Although big progress has been made in the recent years, there are still open issues due to the limitation in technology, but also the insufficient knowledge about the human.

The special issue addresses a broad spectrum of topics within wearable robotics. Special attention should be given to the integration of robotics with intelligent control technology, cognitive science and bio-mechatronics systems with the goal of developing new multi-dimensional robotic services. This includes mechanism modeling and design, model identification and intelligent control, cognitive computing, biological signal processing, neural impedance adaptation, tele-operation and tele-manipulation, robot learning from human demonstration and cognitive modeling for human-robot interaction or collaboration. The special issue publishes original papers of innovative ideas and concepts, new discoveries and improvements, and novel applications and business models relevant to the field of human robot interaction.

Relevant topics

Design, modeling and control of wearable robots and exoskeletons
Novel development of human-in-loop cooperative robotic/mechatronics systems and applications
Impedance control and shared control for human robot cooperation
Intelligent control of prosthetic robots for the disabled
Biological signal processing, modeling and control
Development of bio-mechatronic systems for human-centered intelligent robots
Robotic tele-operation and tele-manipulation
Neuro-robotics for innovative computation and control
Human motion understanding, intention estimation and sensorimotor learning

Motivation and Endorsements

The Special Issue is supported by:

IEEE RAS Technical Committee on Telerobotics
IEEE SMC Technical Committee on Bio-mechatronics and Bio-robotics Systems
The 10th International Workshops on Human-Friendly Robotics 2017

“Wearable Robotics” is one of the main topics for the 2017 International Conference on Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics ICARM'17 (http://www.ieee-arm.org/). Authors of papers accepted for this special issue will also be offered the possibility to present their results at ICARM'17 in a dedicated Special Session

Timeline

Special Issue Call Publication: 20 March 2017
Special Issue Submission Opens: 10 May 2017
Special Issue Submission Closes: 24 May 2017
First Decision Communicated to Authors: 9 August 2017
Final Decision Communicated to Authors: 13 October 2017
Accepted RAL Papers appear on Xplore: November 2017