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Bioengineering
Special Issues
Innovative Approaches in Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation
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Innovative Approaches in Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation

A special issue of Bioengineering (ISSN 2306-5354). This special issue belongs to the section "Biofabrication and Biomanufacturing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 2468

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hongwu Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
Interests: assistive robot; wheelchair-mounted robot; human–robot interaction; robot for upper extremity rehabilitation; human following weight carrying robot; robot companion; standards for rehabilitation robot

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research papers that showcase novel methodologies and advancements in the field of assistive technology (AT) and rehabilitation. This Special Issue will provide a platform for scientists, engineers, clinicians, and researchers to disseminate their contributions towards enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities or impairments through innovative assistive technology applications and effective rehabilitation strategies.

This Special Issue invites original research papers, reviews, and case studies that explore various aspects of assistive technology and rehabilitation, addressing both technical and clinical perspectives. The scope includes, but is not limited to:

  1. Novel Assistive Technologies: Manuscripts focusing on the development and evaluation of novel assistive devices, wearable technologies, and robotic systems intended to augment the capabilities of individuals with physical or cognitive impairments.
  2. Human–Machine Interfaces: Research papers that discuss innovative approaches in the design and implementation of intuitive and user-friendly interfaces, allowing seamless interaction between individuals and assistive technologies.
  3. Rehabilitation Strategies: Studies focusing on state-of-the-art rehabilitation techniques, interventions, and therapies, including but not limited to physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and cognitive rehabilitation.
  4. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Contributions that investigate the utilization of AI and machine learning techniques in assistive technology, rehabilitation assessments, personalized treatment planning, data analysis, and predictive modeling.
  5. User Experience and User-Centered Design: Manuscripts addressing user-centric design principles, usability assessment, technology acceptance, and incorporating end-users' perspectives in the development and deployment of assistive technology and rehabilitation programs.
  6. Clinical Translation and Impact Assessment: Research papers focusing on the clinical implementation, effectiveness evaluation, and real-world impact assessment of innovative assistive technologies and rehabilitation interventions.

Dr. Hongwu Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Bioengineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • assistive technology
  • rehabilitation
  • human–machine interfaces
  • novel technologies
  • artificial intelligence
  • machine learning
  • user experience
  • user-centered design

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

35 pages, 24997 KiB  
Article
EchoSee: An Assistive Mobile Application for Real-Time 3D Environment Reconstruction and Sonification Supporting Enhanced Navigation for People with Vision Impairments
by Broderick S. Schwartz, Seth King and Tyler Bell
Bioengineering 2024, 11(8), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11080831 - 14 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1549
Abstract
Improving the quality of life for people with vision impairments has been an important goal in the research and design of assistive devices for several decades. This paper seeks to further that goal by introducing a novel assistive technology platform that leverages real-time [...] Read more.
Improving the quality of life for people with vision impairments has been an important goal in the research and design of assistive devices for several decades. This paper seeks to further that goal by introducing a novel assistive technology platform that leverages real-time 3D spatial audio to promote safe and efficient navigation for people who are blind or visually impaired (PVI). The presented platform, EchoSee, uses modern 3D scanning technology on a mobile device to construct a live, digital 3D map of a user’s environment as they move about their surroundings. Spatialized, virtual audio sources (i.e., virtual speakers) are dynamically placed within the digital 3D scan of the world, providing the navigator with a real-time 3D stereo audio “soundscape.” The digital 3D map, and its resultant soundscape, are continuously updated as the user moves about their environment. The generated soundscape is played back through headphones connected to the navigator’s device. This paper details (1) the underlying technical components and how they were integrated to produce the mobile application that generates a dynamic soundscape on a consumer mobile device, (2) a methodology for analyzing navigation performance with the application, (3) the design and execution of a user study investigating the effectiveness of the presented system, and (4) a discussion of the results of that study along with a proposed future study and possible improvements. Altogether, this paper presents a novel software platform aimed at assisting individuals with vision impairments to navigate and understand spaces safely, efficiently, and independently and the results of a feasibility study analyzing the viability of the approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation)
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14 pages, 545 KiB  
Article
Hip Exoskeleton for Cycling Assistance
by Martin Grimmer and Guoping Zhao
Bioengineering 2024, 11(7), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11070683 - 5 Jul 2024
Viewed by 619
Abstract
Cycling stands as one of the most widely embraced leisure activities and serves purposes such as exercise, rehabilitation, and commuting. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of assisting three unimpaired participants (age: 34.0 ± 7.9 years, height: 1.86 ± 0.02 m, weight: [...] Read more.
Cycling stands as one of the most widely embraced leisure activities and serves purposes such as exercise, rehabilitation, and commuting. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of assisting three unimpaired participants (age: 34.0 ± 7.9 years, height: 1.86 ± 0.02 m, weight: 75.7 ± 12.7 kg) using the GuroX hip exoskeleton, originally designed for walking assistance, during cycling against a resistance of 1 W/kg. The performance evaluation employed a sweep protocol that manipulated the timing of the exoskeleton’s peak extension and flexion torque in addition to human-in-the-loop optimization to enhance these timings based on metabolic cost. Our findings indicate that with a peak assistance torque of approximately 10.3 Nm for extension and flexion, the GuroX substantially reduced the net metabolic cost of cycling by 31.4 ± 8.1% and 26.4 ± 14.1% compared to transparent and without exoskeleton conditions, respectively. This demonstrates the significant potential of a hip exoskeleton developed for walking assistance to profoundly benefit cycling. Additionally, customizing the assistance strategy proves beneficial in maximizing assistance. While we attribute the average motor power to be a major contributor to the reduced cycling effort, participant feedback suggests that user comfort and synchronization between the user and exoskeleton may have played integral roles. Further research should validate our initial findings by employing a larger participant pool in real-world conditions. Incorporating a more diverse set of parameters for the human-in-the-loop optimization could enhance individualized assistance strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches in Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation)
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