Biomechatronics-merging man with machine

Biomechatronics is an applied interdisciplinary science that encompasses biology, neurosciences, mechanics, electronics and robotics and parts of biological organisms. Biomechatronics is the merging of man with machine -- like the cyborg of science fiction. Biomechatronic scientists attempt to make devices that interact with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems with the goals of assisting or enhancing human motor control that can be lost or impaired by trauma, disease or birth defects
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GOAL OF BIOMECHATRONICS In present scenario, permanent assistive devices are viewed by the physically challenged as separate, lifeless mechanisms and not intimate extensions of the human bodystructurally, neurologically, and dynamically. The Biomechatronics group seeks to advance technologies that promise to accelerate the merging of body and machine, including device architectures that resemble the body's own musculoskeletal design, actuator technologies that behave like muscle, and control methodologies that exploit principles of biological movement.

MILESTONES
In 1985 the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College began research into medical robotics for neurosurgery. Further research into a robot for prostatectomy, commencing in 1988 culminated. In 1991, in a "World First" with the demonstration of robotic prostate surgery. This robot was the first to actively remove tissue from a human patient in an operating theatre.

In 1993 Mechatronics in Medicine Laboratory was set up by the Computer Aided Systems Engineering Section,develop mechatronic aids to surgery. It has gained a world-wide reputation as a centre of excellence for medical robotic research.

WORKING OF BIOMECHATRONICS:

Consider what happens when you lift your hand to work:

The motor center of brain sends impulses to the muscles in your hand.

The appropriate muscles contract to move and lift your hand.

Nerve cells in your hand sense the object and feedback information to your brain to adjust the force. Nerve cells in your hand muscle spindles sense the position of the object and feedback information to the brain.

BRAIN

IMPU L-SES

NERVE CELLS

SENSE THE OBJECT

FEED BACK INFORM ATION

BRAIN

SIGNAL

Once you raise your hand, your brain sends appropriate signals to the hand and finger muscles to set it down . This system has sensors (nerve cells, muscle spindles), actuators (muscles) and a controller (brain/spinal cord).

RESEARCH ARTICLE:
Biomechatronics is a rapidly growing field but as of now there are very few labs which conduct research. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, University of California at Berkley, MIT, and University of Twente in the Netherlands are the researching leaders in biomechatronics. Three main areas are emphasized the current research. 1.Analyzing human motions, which are complex, to aid in the design of biomechatronic devices 2.Studying how electronic devices can be interfaced with the nervous system. 3.Testing the ways to use living muscle tissue as actuators for electronic devices

 Robotic fish As mentioned before Herr and his colleagues made a robotic fish that was propelled by living muscle tissue taken from frog legs. The robotic fish was a prototype of a biomechatronic device with a living actuator. The following charactersitics were given to the fish.[1] A styrofoam float so the fish can float . Electrical wires for connections A silicone tail that enables force while swimming Power provided by lithium batteries A microcontroller to control movement An infrared sensor enables the microcontroller to communicate with a handheld device Muscles stimulated by an electronic unit

APPLICATIONS OF BIOMECHATRONICS