The use of robotics is becoming increasingly popular in the area of rehabilitation. Loss of normal hand function can severely impact one’s ability to perform even the simplest of tasks. This loss of function has a negative impact on patients’ wellbeing and their quality of life. After a stroke, rehabilitation by a physiotherapist can help to restore some, if not all, of that lost control. This is achieved through repetitive task practice, which involves relearning how to perform a task through repetitively practicing that task and the components that make up that task. A robotic exoskeleton can assist the patient in performing the required intense repetitive movements during supervised rehabilitation and also in carrying out exercise programmes on their own. This increased independence from the therapist can give patients more control over their recovery and greater opportunity to practice and relearn lost functions, thereby improving hand function and quality of life. While a large number of robotic hand exoskeletons have been developed, these devices are typically expensive, bulky, and require precise alignment of the biological and exoskeleton joints. The aim of the proposed research is to develop a low-cost and lightweight hand exoskeleton by leveraging recent advances in underactuated robotic graspers, textile-based “exosuits”, and lightweight electromechanical actuators. The proposed exoskeleton will serve as a research platform for future rehabilitation studies at UCD.
