Abstract: In this talk, I will share exciting news about two research areas that my group and our healthcare and academic partners are exploring to improve the life of people with physical or mental impairment:
- Robotic training simulators that mimic behaviors of human patients to help healthcare learners practice and improve their clinical techniques used during neurological examinations (spasticity, rigidity, clonus, tendon reflex, strength) and cardiac procedures (transseptal puncture).
- PURE (Personalized Unique Rolling Experience), a compact, self-balancing ball-based robot (or ballbot) and mobility device for manual wheelchair users that features multi-directional, hands-free movement. PURE breaks the mold of the traditional wheelchair in having the user sit above a lightweight powered chassis with a single large spherical wheel that is driven with lean-to-steer technology.
These projects involve large teams of faculty, staff, and students across engineering, industrial design, and disability services, and clinicians in neurology, physical & occupational therapy, and cardiology.
Bio: Elizabeth (Liz) Hsiao-Wecksler, PhD, is the Grayce Wicall Gauthier Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering (MechSE) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Prof. Hsiao-Wecksler directs the Human Dynamics and Controls Laboratory in the MechSE department where they apply principles from soft and hard robotics, wearables, musculoskeletal biomechanics, and movement analysis. She served as MechSE’s Associate Head for Undergraduate Programs from 2015-2019 and Interim Director of the Health Care Engineering Systems Center in the Grainger College of Engineering from 2022-2023. Her honors included Past President and Fellow of the American Society of Biomechanics, Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Distinguished Engineering Educator Award by the Society of Women Engineers. Her group has been awarded 4 US patents and 3 pending US patents. She is a co-founder of IntelliWheels, Inc., a Champaign, IL start-up that developed novel multi-geared wheels for manual wheelchairs.
Website: https://bioengineering.illinois.edu/people/ethw
Host: Claire Hur