ACIT4035 Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Course description

From prosthetic limbs, exoskeletons, orthotics, hearing aids, and muscle-controlled mobility solutions to artificial organs and cognitive aids, the modern era of rehabilitation and assistive devices has created a paradigm shift in what technology can achieve to help people who need it. A fundamental understanding of principles, challenges, and approaches in designing, operating, and secure use of state-of-the-art rehabilitation and assistive devices is essential to adapt and create suitable solutions. This course provides a hands-on experience in applying novel concepts and methods used by electronic and mechanical devices for rehabilitation and assistive living technologies.

Previous knowledge or practical hands-on experience in electronics, mechanics, or robotics and control is beneficial. It is recommended that the student has taken some of the following courses: ACIT4720 Medical Sensors and Actuators, ACIT4730 Special Biomedical Engineering Subject, or ACIT4820 Applied Robotics and Autonomous Systems.

No formal requirements over and above the admission requirements.

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, the student will have the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The student:

• has specialised knowledge of devices and approaches used in physical rehabilitation, their purpose and functions.
• has advanced understanding of the concepts and methods used by electronic and mechanical devices for rehabilitation and assistive living technologies.
• has an advanced technical understanding of a range of sensors and actuators used in medical rehabilitation and assistive devices, including but not limited to physical, mechanical, electronic and optical.
• can explain and exploit the transduction mechanisms and sensory schemes in relation to rehabilitation of physical activities.
• has advanced practical knowledge of specific rehabilitation and assistive device related to a practical developmental project.

Skills

The student:

• can plan the design, construction and validation of a specific electronic or electromechanical device for rehabilitation and assistive living technologies.
• can critically assess the suitability of different theories, concepts, methods, and techniques for a specific rehabilitation or assistive device.
• can apply novel theories and approaches to solve the task related to rehabilitation and assistive devices. The students will closely work with rehabilitation hospital and will be presented with practical rehabilitation challenge that they will have to solve.
• can design, implement or improve specific device for rehabilitation or assistive living.
• can analyse and document the performance of the developed system and benchmark it with other methods.

General competence

The student:

• can explain the purpose and principle of operation of typical rehabilitation or assistive devices.
• can explain and discus challenges related to rehabilitation and assistive devices to experts and non-experts alike.
• can analyze, present, develop and test possible novel solutions for rehabilitation or assistive device, focusing on electronic and mechanical solutions.

This course will feature weekly lectures and practical work to provide theoretical and hands-on experience. The student will supplement the lectures and practical work with their own reading. The project work will be carried out in groups of a size suited for the chosen rehabilitation or assistive device.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• In order to take the final examination, students are required a minimum attendance of 75%.
• Preliminary project plan and product design (max 1000 words).

The exam consists of two parts:

1. group project report (50% of the final grade), 4-6 pages. The project report must follow the guidelines and template of the IEEE conference proceedings template, which can be accessed here.
2. project demonstration and oral presentation (50% of the final grade in total). The project demonstration is 5-10 minutes per group (30% of the grade). The individual presentation is 5-10 minutes (20% of the grade). It is imperative that the division of workload among group members is clearly stated during the the individual presentation. The presentation will be followed by 10 minute Q&A session.

Both parts of the exam must achieve a pass grade (E or above) in order to pass the course.

The project demonstration and oral presentation cannot be appealed.

New/postponed exam:

In case of a failed exam or legal absence, the student may apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable period following the regular exam. The student is responsible for registering for a new/postponed exam within the time limits set by OsloMet. The Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet.

All aids are permitted

Grade scale A-F

Two internal examiners. External examiner is used periodically.

Haroon Khan