The human in the loop

Abstract

In conventional man-machine interfaces applied to rehabilitation, the primary goal is to control the biomechanical interaction between the human and the machine or environment. However, integrating the human into the loop can be considered not only from a biomechanical view but also with regard to psychophysiological aspects. Biomechanical integration involves ensuring that the system to be used is ergonomically acceptable and “user cooperative." Psychophysiological integration involves recording and controlling the patient’s physiological reactions so that the patient receives appropriate stimuli and is challenged in a moderate but engaging way without causing undue stress or harm. In this chapter, we present examples of biomechanical and psychophysiological integration of patients that have been verified with the gait robot Lokomat.