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Apologies for multiple postings<br>
<br>
New deadline:20 February 2017<br>
List of speakers is now included<br>
<br>
*****************************************************************************<br>
Call for Papers <br>
<br>
Special Session on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Wearable
Robotics for Assistance and Rehabilitation (WRAR)</b><br>
<br>
within the coming <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">CLAWAR
2017</b> - 20th International Conference on Climbing and Walking
Robots and the Support Technologies for Mobile Machines <span
style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">Oporto, Portugal,
September 11-13, 2017<o:p></o:p></span><br>
<br>
<span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://clawar.org/clawar2017/"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://clawar.org/clawar2017/">https://clawar.org/clawar2017/</a></a><o:p></o:p></span><br>
<br>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US">Theme</span></b><span
style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US"> : Rehabilitation and assistive robotics</span><span
style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><b
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US"><br>
<br>
*************************************************************************************</span></b>
<br>
<span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><br>
ABOUT THE SPECIAL SESSION:<o:p></o:p></span><b
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span
style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><br>
<br>
Abstract</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US">: The adoption of novel active wearable devices,
either for daily assistance or clinical rehabilitation, requires
new approaches to ultimately enable efficient treatments and
better facilitation of movement for individuals who present loss
of motor abilities. In particular, since these devices interact
directly with humans there are major challenges that still need to
be addressed such as acceptance, effectiveness, safety and
functionality. Thus, there is a need to consider further the
knowledge from complementary disciplines such as neuronal
sciences, human-centered design, computer science, biomechanics,
neuroscience, and psychology. This will enable to design the
wearable devices as a natural extension of the human body, a
fundamental feature for sustainability of such system. <o:p></o:p></span><br>
<br>
<span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">The proposed
session will bring talks to provide insights on these multiple
challenges with perspectives from engineers and medical doctors
while focusing on aspects of human-robot interaction and interface
technologies. It will gather knowledge from these disciplines
focusing on the development of human-oriented approaches to assist
and rehabilitation gait function after neurological injuries. The
intended list of speakers is expected to cover the above-mentioned
fields. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US"><br>
<br>
This session is primarily addressed to young researchers (PhD and
advanced Master students), researchers and professionals
interested in Medical Robotics such as Assistive and
Rehabilitation and in the new perspectives in this field. The
workshop provides a unique opportunity for faculty, students,
industry and the general public to come together and learn about
the latest advances in these fields of medical robotics. The idea
is to discuss current needs and future directions of human-robot
interactive and rehabilitation systems from both the clinical and
industrial point of view. The participants will get in touch with
other colleagues in the field and they will have the opportunity
to improve their knowledge through the presented talks.<o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"></span><span
style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><br>
<br>
Invited speakers will be announced soon<o:p></o:p></span><span
style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US"><br>
<br>
*******************************************************************<o:p></o:p></span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
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New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US" lang="EN-US"><br>
<br>
SUBMISSION:<o:p></o:p></span></b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:
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mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"
lang="EN-US"><br>
<br>
We invite submission of full draft papers to this Special Session,
in PDF format and up to a maximum of 8 pages, using the URL (<a
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.softconf.com/g/clawar2017"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.softconf.com/g/clawar2017">https://www.softconf.com/g/clawar2017</a></a>).
Authors should follow the guidelines of the template available at
the paper submission page of the conference web-site by the
indicated deadline.</span> <span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times
New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US">All
contributions will be refereed and accepted papers will appear in
the Conference Proceedings, which will be published by World
Scientific Publishing Company. A selection of presented papers
will also be recommended for possible publication in reputable
international journals.<o:p></o:p></span> <b
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times
New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US" lang="EN-US"></span></b><b
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:
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New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US" lang="EN-US"><br>
<br>
Important dates:<o:p></o:p></span></b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:
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mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><br>
<br>
Submission of full draft Papers / Posters <span
style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span
style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>20 February 2017<o:p></o:p></span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:
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New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:
EN-US" lang="EN-US"></span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times
New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><br>
Notification of Paper / Poster Acceptance <span
style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span
style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>15 March 2017<o:p></o:p></span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times
New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><br>
Submission of Final (accepted) Papers / Posters <span
style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>12 April 2017<o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times
New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"></span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times
New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><br>
Conference <span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span
style="mso-tab-count:5">
</span>11 – 13 September 2017<o:p></o:p></span><b
style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US"><br>
<br>
Organizers</span></b><span
style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US">:</span><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span> <span
style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US"><br>
Cristina P Santos, PhD-IEEE Member, <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:cristina@dei.uminho.pt">cristina@dei.uminho.pt</a></span><span
style="mso-ansi-language:EN-US" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><span
style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"
lang="EN-US"><br>
Juan C Moreno, PhD-IEEE Member, <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:JC.MORENO@CSIC.ES">JC.MORENO@CSIC.ES</a></span><br>
<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<b class=""><b class=""><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New
Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:PT;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"
lang="EN-US"></span></b></b></b><b class="">Speakers</b>
<div class="" align="justify"><br class="">
</div>
<div class="" align="justify"><b class="">Francesco Bottiglione</b>
(Polytechnic University of Bari)</div>
<div align="justify"><b>Title</b><b>: </b>Energy
recovering actuators to improve the range, the efficiency and the
portability: old tricks for future applications</div>
<div class="" align="justify">
<div><b>Abstract:</b> Wearable robots for lower limbs aspire
to become portable devices helping disabled people in the
everyday life. In the meanwhile, a lot of work is still to be
done on the actuators side to achieve the optimal tradeoff
between the availability of powerful and long-ranged devices and
their portability. The characteristics of lower limb movements
are not the ideal ones for the commonly adopted electric drives.
Firstly, they do not allow the actuators to work continuously in
their optimal operating conditions. Furthermore, peak torque and
power requested are much larger than the average ones. For these
reasons, it is commonly necessary to oversize and to overweight
the batteries and the actuators with respect to their actual
usage, leading to drawbacks in terms of portability. In
principle, all those everyday actions characterized by a
periodic repeatability – walking above all - offer the chance to
implement some old smart strategies to drastically reduce the
energy requirements and the size of the motors. Periodic motions
are indeed characterized by “active” phases, when energy must be
provided by the actuator to the user side, followed by “passive”
phases, when the energy must flow in the opposite way. An
actuator capable of recovering and storing the energy in the
passive phases and to re-use such energy in the active phases
would consume much less energy and stress the motor only with
the average values of requested power. An actuator capable of
doing such a thing mechanically, would do it
efficiently. Several possible technical solutions have been and
are being developed and will be briefly summarized. The ones
based on kinetic energy accumulation
and continuously-variable-transmission-driven power flow will be
discussed in depth.</div>
<br>
</div>
<div class="" align="justify"><b class="">Carlos A. Cifuentes</b>
(Colombian School of Engineering Julio Garavito) </div>
<div class="" align="justify"><b>Title:</b> Bio-inspired lower-limb
exoskeletons for gait assistance and rehabilitation<br class="">
<b>Abstract:</b> Exoskeletons are becoming one of the most
promising devices to improve quality of life to injured patients
to regain ability to walk. Bioinspired designs in exoskeletons
could increase adaptability as well as minimal interference to
perform gait movements. This talk presents some remarks of
bioinspired exoskeleton for enhanced physical interaction during
gait assistance and rehabilitation, which are based on the motion
analysis model, taking into account bioinspired design
criteria, and also concepts of wearable robots.</div>
<div class="" align="justify"><br class="">
</div>
<div class="" align="justify"><b class="">Nina Lefeber</b> (Vrije
Universiteit Brussel)</div>
<div class="" align="justify"><b>Title: </b>Robot-Assisted
Gait: What About the Cardiometabolic Load?</div>
<div class="" align="justify"><b>Abstract</b><b>:</b> Lately, robot
technology is being increasingly implemented in the
gait rehabilitation of neurological patients (e.g. stroke
patients). The aim of this development has been to reduce the
physical load of the therapist and increase the training duration
and intensity of the patient. In the past, research on the effects
of robot-assistance has been mainly focused on gait related
parameters. Yet, little is known about the effects on
the cardiometabolic load (e.g. energy consumption, heart rate or
minute ventilation). Nevertheless, neurological patients are often
confronted with impaired cardiorespiratory fitness, which is a
major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
Hence, it is important to gain insight in these aspects – both for
safety as well as training related aspects. Numerous
characteristics (e.g. type of robot, level of assistance, speed
and duration of walking, disease severity or stage of
rehabilitation) however, complicate the estimates of the
cardiometabolic load during robot-assisted gait. This presentation
will review the current literature on cardiometabolic load during
robot-assisted gait as well as preliminary results of own work
in stroke patients. Particular gaps that still need to be targeted
in the future will be highlighted.<br class="">
<br class="">
</div>
<div class="" align="justify"><b class="">Eduardo Rocon</b> (Consejo
Superior de Investigaciones Científicas)</div>
<div class="" align="justify"><b>Title: </b>Robotic platform for
the Rehabilitation of children with Cerebral Palsy: CPWalker<br
class="">
<b>Abstract:</b> Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common cause of
permanent physical disability in childhood. CP is a disorder of
posture and movement due to a defect or lesion in the immature
brain. CP is often associated to sensory deficits, cognition
impairments, communication and motor disabilities, behaviour
issues, seizure disorder, pain and secondary musculoskeletal
problems. New strategies are needed to help to promote, maintain,
and rehabilitate the functional capacity, and thereby diminish the
dedication and assistance required and the economical demands that
this condition represents for the patient, the caregivers and the
society. During this talk I will present a pilot study done with
several children with spastic CP, who trained with a new robotic
platform called CPWalker during five weeks. This experimental
device is a novel over ground prototype for gait rehabilitation
with body weight support for children with CP. After
rehabilitation training, both patients improved the mean velocity,
cadence and step length. Moreover, the comparison between pre and
post- kinematics analysis without the robot shows specific
developments for each subject depending on the focus of the
therapy (mainly trunk or hip flexion-extension).</div>
<div class="" align="justify"><br class="">
</div>
<div class="" align="justify"><b class="">Herman van der Kooij</b>
(University of Twente)</div>
<div align="justify"><b>Title: </b>Rendering lower limb
neuro-mechanics in an wearable exoskeleton for SCI subjects<br
class="">
<b>Abstract:</b> Current exoskeletons replay pre-programmed
trajectories at the actuated joints. To allow spinal cord injury
(SCI) subjects to walk again, ultimately without additional
support aids, we aim to emulate the neuro-mechanics of the limbs
in a modular torque controlled wearable exoskeleton. We employed a
biologically inspired neuromuscular controller (NMC), which was
based on the muscle-reflex model of Geyer et al. This model
encodes principles of legged mechanics through several local
reflex loops that activate depending on leg-ground contact state.
While the NMC has been implemented in a powered ankle prosthesis
and shown to normalize gait for transtibial amputee subjects,
these controllers have not yet been implemented in multi-dof
devices that support locomotion. Our aim is two-fold. First, we
further validate and refine the NMC in the context of force
perturbations, and second, we determine its efficacy for the
control of wearable exoskeletons, in particular those that allow
SCI subjects to walk again.<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cristina Manuela Peixoto dos Santos
Universidade do Minho
Escola de Engenharia
Dept. Electrónica Industrial
Campus de Azurém
4800-058 Guimaraes
PORTUGAL
Tel: +351 253 510190/604705
Fax: +351 253510189
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:E-Mail:cristina@dei.uminho.pt">E-Mail:cristina@dei.uminho.pt</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.dei.uminho.pt/pessoas/cristina/">http://www.dei.uminho.pt/pessoas/cristina/</a></pre>
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