The project aims to advance both foundations and enabling technologies in the field of human-machine systems, with a focus on exercise and rehabilitation machines. A human interacting with an advanced (actively-controlled) exercise machine is the ultimate cyber-physical system due to the presence of multi-level loop closures, large-scale, coupled musculoskeletal dynamics, conflicting objectives between human vs. machine controllers, uncertain dynamics and limited sensing.

Abstract:  The project seeks to develop cyber-enabled exercise machines (CEEMs), which will be characterized by: i. intrinsic safety, ii. an extended use of sensing and estimation of biomechanical data, iii. real-time adaptation and guidance to the user to achieve optimal exercise. The project will develop optimality criteria on the basis of collective activation of target muscle groups.