MAHI Lab: Mechatronics-Enabled Rehab (2018)
MAHI Lab: Mechatronics and Haptic Interfaces (Rice University)
In collaboration with with Evan Pezent, Jack Kaplan, and Saad Yousaf
Software: Unity, C#, Python, Matlab/Simulink, SolidWorks, Blender, Autodesk 3DS Max
Fabrication: 3D Printing, CNC Mill, Lathe, Soldering, Wire Harnesses
MAHI Lab
The MAHI lab is Rice University's Mechatronics and Haptic Interfaces lab, focusing on the design, manufacture, and evaluation of mechatronic systems to model, rehabilitate, or augment the human sensorimotor system.
Primarily, I fabricated quickturn parts and test beds as-needed, for projects including a haptic glove, wrist exoskeleton, and skin stretcher.
Wrist rehabilitation is a process that requires consistent repetition of similar tasks over long periods of time — a characteristic that makes them ideal candidates for automation.
In earlier stages, rehab games were largely simplistic, with a user directing a dot across the screen to different dots in a way that would encourage the desired wrist movement.
Haptic Rehab
Game Design
The training system above lends itself well to more unique applications that can make for an overall more enjoyable, and as such more successful, rehab experience. Patterns of blaster bolts are randomized from a set of desired bolt patterns that still encourage the user to move their wrist in the desired way, while haptic feedback adds resistance and builds strength.
A full video in action is available here!
The project used Blender (model rigging), Autodesk (model skinning), and Unity (physics and scripting); it also would not have been possible without the research and designwork of Evan Pezent, who built the exoskeleton and the core gameplay.