Study on High Sensitivity Human Body Communication Based Bio-Sensor for Wireless Control of Wearable Robot

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H02139
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 21020:Communication and network engineering-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: WANG JIANQING 名古屋工業大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (70250694)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 田中 元志 秋田大学, 理工学研究科, 准教授 (50261649)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ウェアラブルロボット / ワイヤレス制御 / 人体通信 / EMC / 筋電／脳波センサー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to control a wearable robot hand wirelessly, and the purpose was realized by integrating a noise-resistant bio-sensor unit and a human body communication unit. First, we elucidated the mechanism by which common-mode noise generated by an external electromagnetic field is superimposed on the bio-sensor output signal by mode conversion theory, and developed an automatic noise canceling circuit that can achieve 95% noise reduction. Next, taking advantage of the characteristics of human body communication, we developed a wideband impulse radio type human body communication module using a weak radio band of 10 to 60 MHz, and high-speed communication of 20 Mb/s with a bit error rate of one millionth or less up to one meter above the human body was realized. Finally, the wireless control of a myoelectric artificial hand was experimentally demonstrated, and the usefulness of the developed technology was proved.

Free Research Field

通信・ネットワーク工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢少子化社会において，ヒトの意図（筋電や脳波信号）に基づき，実際のヒトよりさらに力の要る仕事（産業ロボット）やヒトの手や指でできる仕事よりさらに精巧な仕事（精密ロボット，医療ロボット）をすることのできる人体装着型ロボットの普及が期待される．本研究は，筋電や脳波信号を用いて，人体装着ロボットをワイヤレスで制御するための耐ノイズ性高感度な人体通信型生体センサーの技術開発であり，その成果は，人体装着型ロボットのワイヤレス制御の要素技術の確立に大きく寄与し，産業界を始め，日常社会の生活品質の向上にも広い波及効果をもたらす．