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SUMMARY:Advances in the Design and Operation of Artificial Arms - Dr Peter
  Kyberd\, University of New Brunswick\, Canada
DTSTART:20080508T143000Z
DTEND:20080508T153000Z
UID:TALK12095@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr James Bendall
DESCRIPTION:Despite superficial similarities\, the design of artificial ar
 ms is very different from that of robots.  This is due to the tough requir
 ements that such a device has to fulfil\, they have to be practical.  Not 
 only do they have to be light and compact enough to be carried around\, bu
 t they must have toughness end endurance.  They must be easy to use and mo
 st importantly\, cheap enough to be affordable by more than a small percen
 tage of the population.\n\nThe ease of use is crucial as humans are very a
 daptable.  If they can perform a task quicker some other way\, rather than
  through a complex set of actions to drive their prosthesis\, then they wi
 ll and the device will remain unused.  The history of prosthetics is litte
 red with elegant engineered solutions that have proved to be impractical w
 hen faced with the ultimate test of the real world.  So although this make
 s the task more difficult it also creates challenges that engineers and th
 erapists are facing.\n\nThis talk will look at a number of solutions that 
 are currently being proposed\, such as the analysis of the patterns of con
 tractions performed by the muscles in the forearm to drive artificial arms
 .  It will also examine other means of control and actuation.\n\nFinally\,
  the operation of natural hands is complex and many have an impact on the 
 acceptability (or otherwise) of newer designs of prostheses.\n
LOCATION: IRC in Superconductivity Seminar room
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