Category: Presentation

Utah Conference of Undergraduate Research 2024

Two undergraduate research fellows from the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab, Cassandra Burdick and Joshua Gubler, presented their research at the Utah Conference of Undergraduate Research (UCUR) held at Utah Valley University. UCUR is an annual conference celebrating and highlighting undergraduate research. This event demonstrates and celebrates undergraduate research and creative work from 10 colleges and universities in Utah. Students of all disciplines from around the state share the results of their investigations with other students, faculty, field specialists, and the public. Cassandra’s and Josh’s presentations were:

  • Cassandra Burdick – Analyzing Fine EMG Control of Hemiparetic Stroke Patients Using a Virtual Reality Variant of the Box and Blocks Task
  • Josh Gubler – Strategies for Downsampling Electromyographic Signals for Low-Power Wearables

Featured in President Randall’s Legislature Presentation

University of Utah President, Taylor Randall, highlighted the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab multiple times during his recent presentations to the Utah State Legislature. The Utah NeuroRobotics Lab was recognized as a driving force of innovation at the University of Utah, pioneering new technologies that can lead to substantial economic growth in Utah. Slides from the talk highlighting the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab are shown below. Read more about President Randall's vision on the future of higher education and research in the state of Utah, or watch the full presentation.

Mingchuan Cheng Presents at District Science Fair

Mingchuan Cheng, a dedicated member of our NeuroRobotics Lab since May 2023 and a junior at West High School, showcased his work at the district-level science fair on February 1st, 2024. Mingchuan’s research, titled “Unraveling Cognitive Load in Prosthetic Tasks via Detection Response Task,” delves into quantifying cognitive load to establish crucial baselines and standards for future prosthetic advancements. His approach lays the groundwork for enhanced prosthetic designs, allowing future researchers to use the Detection Response Task to objectively measure the cognitive load of individuals operating prostheses. Mingchuan’s dedication and innovative thinking exemplify the spirit of scientific inquiry we foster in our lab, inspiring peers and mentors alike. He will continue his research and present again at a state-wide science fair in March of this year.

Joshua Gubler Presents at Research on Capitol Hill

Josh Gubler, an undergraduate student in biomedical engineering at the University of Utah, recently presented his research at the Research on Capitol Hill (ROCH) event on January 18th, 2024. The event, organized by the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Office of Government Relations, and the Office of Undergraduate Research, provides a platform for selected students to present their research findings to Utah State legislators. Gubler’s participation underscores the significance of undergraduate research and creative work from the University of Utah and Utah State University, the top two research universities in the state.

Gubler’s research at ROCH focused on finding strategies to downsample EMG (Electromyography) signals while maintaining good control. His work addresses practical applications at the intersection of biomedical engineering and signal processing. The event allowed him to engage with legislators, showcasing the real-world impact of his research and contributing to the broader conversation on the importance of supporting undergraduate academic endeavors, particularly in areas like biomedical engineering. The collaborative effort between university offices in selecting and showcasing students like Gubler reflects the institutions’ commitment to fostering a vibrant undergraduate research community across diverse disciplines.

See Josh’s poster here.

Next Steps in Clinical Translation

The Utah NeuroRobotics Lab is teaming up with Biological Input Output Systems (BIOS) to bring advanced neuroprostheses to the market. In this presentation at the Utah Life Sciences Summit, Dr. George, director of the Utah NeuroRobotics Lab, presents alongside Joshua Miller, CEO of BIOS. Check out their presentation below!

Rehab Week & ICORR 2023

On September 24-28, many members of the lab attended Rehab Week 2023 in Singapore to present their work at the International Consortium for Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR). This meeting is sponsored by both the IEEE Robotics & Automation Society (RAS) as well as Engineering Medicine & Biology Society (EMBS). Rehab Week included simultaneous meetings from nine different physical rehabilitation and rehabilitation technology societies. Attendees participated in one day of conference workshops before the remaining four days of talks and presentations. In their free time, attendees explored Singapore’s famous hawker food centers, botanical gardens, and diverse cultural neighborhoods!

Lab alumnus Aaron Wang presented an impressive podium talk on his paper titled “Correcting Temporal Inaccuracies in Labeled Training Data for Electromyographic Control Algorithms.”

Ph.D. students Michael Adkins, Monika Buczak, and Connor Olsen each presented posters on their papers of the following titles:

  • Adkins: “Automated Quantifiable Assessments of Sensorimotor Function Using an Instrumented Fragile Object”
  • Buczak: “Intuitive, Myoelectric Control of Adaptive Sports Equipment for Individuals with Tetraplegia”
  • Olsen: “Wrist EMG Improves Gesture Classification for Stroke Patients

Presentations at the Utah Biomedical Engineering Conference

Several students presented posters at the Utah Biomedical Engineering Conference on Saturday, September 9th. Presentations included:

  • Fredi Mino – Co-Adaptive Myoelectric Control: A Framework that Equalizes Human Computer-Interaction for Stroke Survivors
  • Abigail Harrison – Transcutaneous Wrist Stimulation Provides Sensory Feedback for Augmented and Virtual Reality
  • Connor Olsen – Wrist EMG Improves Gesture Classification for Stroke Patients
  • Jared Zollinger – Development of a Surface Electromyography Integrated Low-Cost Control System for Assistive Robotic Devices
  • Michael Adkins & Nate Toth – Automated Quantifiable Assessments of Sensorimotor Function Using an Instrumented Fragile Object
  • Bret Mecham – MAV of Peripheral Nerve Activity Has More Predictive Power than Firing Rate for Neuroprostheses
  • Caleb Thomson – Proportional Myoelectric Control of a Bionic Arm in Participants with Chronic Hemiparesis, Muscle Spasticity, and Impaired Range of Motion
  • Monika Buczak – Intuitive, Myoelectric Control of Adaptive Sports Equipment for Individuals with Tetraplegia

    • Gould Distinguished Lecture on Technology and the Quality of Life: From a sci-fi dream to real-world impact

    In 2019, Jacob George, an assistant professor in the University of Utah Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and fellow researchers at the U made waves with the “LUKE Arm.” Named after the robotic hand given to Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back, the team’s prosthetic arm has the ability to feel objects by transmitting the appropriate signals to the brain. Not only can the arm feel, but it can be controlled by the user’s thoughts.

    Members of the campus and broader community are invited to attend a lecture from George scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. in the Gould Auditorium on the first level of the U’s J. Willard Marriott Library.

    As the featured speaker for The William R. and Erlyn J. Gould Distinguished Lecture on Technology and the Quality of Life, George will highlight this technology and the advances that have taken place since their breakthrough technology was first announced—including translation into bionic exoskeletons to aid individuals with paralysis and into smartwatches that could allow anyone to seamlessly control smart devices and augmented reality interfaces by thought.

    Click here to read the full press release.

    Utah NeuroRobotics Lab Commends Exceptional High School Researchers

    The Utah NeuroRobotics Lab recently welcomed two exceptional high school students, Mingchuan Cheng from West High School and Sophie Nelson from Murray High School, as participants in the College of Engineering’s Summer Research Internship program. Cheng and Nelson made impressive strides in their research project titled “Classification of Activities of Daily Living from Muscle Activity,” with the culmination of their efforts showcased at a symposium on August 4th, 2023.

    Their innovative study focused on the classification of activities of daily living (ADL) based on muscle activity data collected from the wrist, forearm, and bicep. This research could have far-reaching implications for fields such as assistive technology and rehabilitation medicine.