Browsing by Author "Clark, Janelle P."

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    Improving short-term retention after robotic training by leveraging fixed-gain controllers
    (Sage, 2019) Losey, Dylan P.; Blumenschein, Laura H.; Clark, Janelle P.; O’Malley, Marcia K.
    Introduction: When developing control strategies for robotic rehabilitation, it is important that end-users who train with those strategies retain what they learn. Within the current state-of-the-art, however, it remains unclear what types of robotic controllers are best suited for promoting retention. In this work, we experimentally compare short-term retention in able-bodied end-users after training with two common types of robotic control strategies: fixed- and variable-gain controllers. Methods: Our approach is based on recent motor learning research, where reward signals are employed to reinforce the learning process. We extend this approach to now include robotic controllers, so that participants are trained with a robotic control strategy and auditory reward-based reinforcement on tasks of different difficulty. We then explore retention after the robotic feedback is removed. Results: Overall, our results indicate that fixed-gain control strategies better stabilize able-bodied users’ motor adaptation than either a no controller baseline or variable-gain strategy. When breaking these results down by task difficulty, we find that assistive and resistive fixed-gain controllers lead to better short-term retention on less challenging tasks but have opposite effects on the learning and forgetting rates. Conclusions: This suggests that we can improve short-term retention after robotic training with consistent controllers that match the task difficulty..
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    Reflection on System Dynamics Principles Improves Student Performance in Haptic Paddle Labs
    (IEEE, 2018) Rose, Chad G.; McDonald, Craig G.; Clark, Janelle P.; O’Malley, Marcia K.
    Contribution: Significant effort has been placed on the development of laboratory exercises for mechanical engineering curricula. Often, however, the exercises are not structured to encourage students to see the labs as a scientific process, instead of a checklist to be completed. Facilitating reflective observation and abstract conceptualization during the concrete experience (CE) of the lab improves student performance. Background: Extensive work has been put into the development of simple, low-cost educational tools to improve learning by supplementing curricula with hands-on experiences. Several devices, including haptic paddles, have been developed to combine dynamics and mechatronics content which culminate in rendering virtual environments. Despite demonstrated student interest in haptic devices and the foundational role of CE in learning, experimental comparisons of learning outcomes over a broad range of devices have had mixed results. Intended Outcomes: Device design can only address the experience portions of the learning cycle--effort put into encouraging and mediating a reflection phase will improve student performance. To test this hypothesis, the performance was compared of groups receiving the standard haptic paddle lab curriculum or a curriculum intended to facilitate reflection. Findings: Students receiving the reflective curriculum had statistically significant higher scores on lab report grades than those receiving the standard, non-reflective curriculum. The increased performance across multiple student GPA quartiles suggests that even modest curriculum changes designed to encourage reflection can improve student performance.
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    The Rice Haptic Rocker: Skin stretch haptic feedback with the Pisa/IIT SoftHand
    (IEEE, 2017) Battaglia, Edoardo; Clark, Janelle P.; Bianchi, Matteo; Catalano, Manuel G.; Bicchi, Antonio; O’Malley, Marcia K.
    Myoelectric prostheses have seen increased application in clinical practice and research, due to their potential for good functionality and versatility. Yet, myoelectric prostheses still suffer from a lack of intuitive control and haptic feedback, which can frustrate users and lead to abandonment. To address this problem, we propose to convey proprioceptive information for a prosthetic hand with skin stretch using the Rice Haptic Rocker. This device was integrated with the myo-controlled version of Pisa/IIT SoftHand and a size discrimination test with 18 able bodied subjects was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Results show that the Rice Haptic Rocker can be successfully used to convey proprioceptive information. A Likert survey was also presented to the experiment participants, who evaluated the integrated setup as easy to use and effective in conveying proprioception.