Thin, soft, and elastic electronics with physical properties well matched to the epidermis can be conformally and robustly integrated with the skin. Materials and optimized designs for such devices ...are presented for surface electromyography (sEMG). The findings enable sEMG from wide ranging areas of the body. The measurements have quality sufficient for advanced forms of human‐machine interface.
In the near future, more vehicles will have automated functions. The traffic system will be a shared space of automated and manually driven vehicles. In our study we focused on the perspective of ...vulnerable road users, namely pedestrians, in cooperative situations with automated vehicles. Established communication methods, such as eye-contact between pedestrians and drivers, may no longer work when automated vehicles represent the interaction partner. Therefore, we evaluated several human-machine-interfaces (HMI) in order to implement smooth and comfortable communication. We conducted a two-stage study consisting of an explorative focus group discussion with naïve pedestrians (n = 6), followed by an experimental video simulation study (n = 25) based on the results of the focus group discussion. From the focus group we sought member opinion about various HMI, upon presentation of acoustic and visual communication systems such as projections, displays and LED light strips, in addition to portable communication systems, specifically smart watches. On the basis of the focus group discussion, an evaluation criteria was derived. For the video simulation study, HMI designs were created with variations in position, type and coding of the message, and technology. These were assessed by 25 subjects according to the focus discussion derived evaluation criteria: recognizability, unambiguousness, interaction comfort and intuitive comprehensibility. The results show that direct instructions to cross the street are preferred over status information of the vehicle and that large-scale text-based messages from the vehicle to the pedestrian, deliver better results. Design recommendations for HMIs for communication between automated vehicles are derived, and the extent external HMIs may supplement informal communication strategies such as vehicle movement or braking maneuvers, is discussed.
•Design criteria for pedestrian-automation interaction.•Assessment of valuable HMI variations.•Recommendations for HMI developers.
The human skin is an essential organ of the human body for sensing various changes in the external environment, including pressure, temperature, and humidity, as well as for interacting with the ...outside world. Therefore, in the field of soft electronics, the development of the electronic skin (e-skin) that mimics the functions and properties of the human skin is an important research topic. The potential applications of the e-skin technology include wearable electronics, soft robotics, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), and prosthetic devices. Toward such research goals, various technologies are required. Among these, the stretchable electrode technology is a key component for achieving soft, stretchable e-skin and its applications. Therefore, various materials and design strategies for stretchable electrodes have been developed by many research groups. The successful development of stretchable electrodes has resulted in the rapid progress of high-performance stretchable device components such as stretchable sensors and actuators. Moreover, the integration of these device components with stretchable interconnects has yielded an integrated e-skin system, through which interactive human-machine interfacing can be achieved. This paper presents an overview of state-of-the-art technological advances in materials and design strategies for the development of stretchable electrodes. In addition, e-skin systems and their HMI applications based on such stretchable electrodes are briefly reviewed.
To enable the broad adoption of wearable robotic exoskeletons in medical and industrial settings, it is crucial they can adaptively support large repertoires of movements. We propose a new ...human-machine interface to simultaneously drive bilateral ankle exoskeletons during a range of "unseen" walking conditions and transitions that were not used for establishing the control interface. The proposed approach used person-specific neuromechanical models to estimate biological ankle joint torques in real-time from measured electromyograms (EMGS) and joint angles. We call this "neuromechanical model-based control" (NMBC). NMBC enabled six individuals to voluntarily control a bilateral ankle exoskeleton across six walking conditions, including all intermediate transitions, i.e., two walking speeds, each performed at three ground elevations. A single subject case-study was carried out on a dexterous locomotion tasks involving moonwalking. NMBC always enabled reducing biological ankle torques, as well as eight ankle muscle EMGs both within (22% torque;12% EMG) and between walking conditions (24% torque; 14% EMG) when compared to non-assisted conditions. Torque and EMG reductions in novel walking conditions indicated that the exoskeleton operated symbiotically, as an exomuscle controlled by the operator.s neuromuscular system. This opens new avenues for the systematic adoption of wearable robots as part of out-of-the-lab medical and occupational settings.
Cellulose@Mg(OH)2 was prepared via a facile method, which has both good shaping ability and high removal capability. The composite can be made into filter to remove heavy metal ion, and the treated ...water meets the potable water criteria.
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•Water treatment agent cellulose@Mg(OH)2 was prepared via a facile method.•Cellulose guides to form ultrathin Mg(OH)2 by non Van der Waals interaction.•Easy shaping property of our material makes HMIs’ separation practical.•High removal capacity and durability are achieved for HMIs’ removal.•Recovered HMIs can be retained on composite fibers and separated from water.
The utilization of renewable biomass cellulose in treating pollution of heavy metal ions (HMIs) is one of overarching and appealing strategies, because it simultaneously satisfies sustainable development and resolves ever-increasing environmental issue. In this regard, the composite cellulose@Mg(OH)2 was prepared via a facile method and explored for its use as water treatment agent. It is demonstrated that the smaller and thinner hexagonal Mg(OH)2 flakes are constructed onto the cellulose substrate by self-assembling; two components are chemically coupled via hydrogen bonds and Mg-Oc (cellulose oxygen) dative bonds; what’s more, the coupling of cellulose with Mg(OH)2 (101) facet is much more preferential than with (001) facet. The resultant composite material shows remarkable HMI removal performance: large capacities of 734.9, 595.8 and 1473.1 mg g−1 for Cd2+, Cu2+ and Pb2+, respectively. Further assisted by good shaping property of the cellulose substrate, the composite is capable of being made into filter, which practically separates HMIs and purifies wastewater with high removal efficiency (99.99%) for Cd2+ even after operating for 110 days and potable water can be obtained. The mechanism is delineated with removal models and characterizations of HMI-recovered products.
This research paper examines the evolution of human-machine interfaces (HMIs) in the manufacturing and logistics sectors in the context of Industry 5.0 (I5.0). I5.0 introduces a human-centered ...paradigm, and as digitalization transforms processes in these domains, human-machine interaction is undergoing a notable shift. Yet, there is a lack of I5.0 HMI requirements and design guidelines. Through a literature review, the research identifies and investigates general requirements for HMIs in I5.0. Findings include ethical principles, ergonomics, adaptability, human-centered design, intuitive interaction, and effective collaboration. It also uses a case study approach to highlight potential strategies and discuss challenges. The results provide valuable insights into considerations for designing effective HMIs for I5.0 applications, enhancing the user experience, improving productivity, and facilitating successful human-machine interactions.
While automated vehicle technology progresses, potentially leading to a safer and more efficient traffic environment, many challenges remain within the area of human factors, such as user trust for ...automated driving (AD) vehicle systems. The aim of this paper is to investigate how an appropriate level of user trust for AD vehicle systems can be created via human-machine interaction (HMI). A guiding framework for implementing trust-related factors into the HMI interface is presented. This trust-based framework incorporates usage phases, AD events, trust-affecting factors, and levels explaining each event from a trust perspective. Based on the research findings, the authors recommend that HMI designers and automated vehicle manufacturers take a more holistic perspective on trust rather than focusing on single, "isolated" events, for example understanding that trust formation is a dynamic process that starts long before a user's first contact with the system, and continues long thereafter. Furthermore, factors-affecting trust change, both during user interactions with the system and over time; thus, HMI concepts need to be able to adapt. Future work should be dedicated to understanding how trust-related factors interact, as well as validating and testing the trust-based framework.
The miniaturization of computers has led to the development of wearable devices in the form of watches and eyeglasses. Consequently, the narrower screen size has raised the issue of operability for ...text input. This problem can be resolved using external input devices, such as physical keyboards. However, this can impair portability and accessibility. This study proposes a finger-tapping motion recognition system using wrist-mounted piezoelectric film sensors to realize an input interface with high wearability and not limited by screen size. In the proposed system, biodegradable piezoelectric film sensors, which are highly compatible with biological signal measurement, are attached to the palmar and dorsal surfaces of the wrist to measure minute skin surface deformation during tapping. The system detects the occurrence of tapping movements for each finger by preprocessing the measured signals and calculating the total activity of all channels. It also recognizes the type of finger movement based on machine learning. In the experiment, we measured ten different signals, including five-finger flexion and extension, for 11 subjects, to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. According to the experimental results, tapping recognition accuracy for time-series data was 77.5%, assuming character input. In addition, the time difference between the detected and actual taps was approximately 50 ms on average. Therefore, the proposed method can be utilized as an input interface for wristband-type wearable devices.
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