Event:

==Modern Robotic Technologies for Bioinspired Artificial Limbs

State-of-the-art bionic hands incorporate hi-tech devices which try to match the richness and complexity of the human hand sensory-motor system. Unfortunately, their complexity often limits mechanical robustness and intuitive prosthesis control. Recently, the translation of neuroscientific theories (i.e. postural synergies) in software and hardware architecture of artificial devices suggests a promising direction towards the next generation of high technologic bionic aids. This talk aims to exploit the potential of these emerging trends and proposes new strategies to optimise the performance of an artificial hand, achieving a useful trade-off between grasping performance and mechanical design/control complexity.

Cristina Piazza is currently Professor for Healthcare and Rehabilitation Robotics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). She received her PhD in Robotics at University of Pisa, Italy before moving to to Chicago (USA) where she worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University and the Regenstein Foundation Center for Bionic Medicine, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (former Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago). Her main research interests include the design and control of soft artificial limbs for robotic and prosthetic applications. She has also experience in designing and conducting clinical trials with amputee subjects.

Please note: We had to shift this talk due to unforseen reason - new event date is June 22nd.