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Mondellini M, Prajod P, Lavit Nicora M, Chiappini M, Micheletti E, Storm FA, Vertechy R, André E, Malosio M. Behavioral patterns in robotic collaborative assembly: comparing neurotypical and Autism Spectrum Disorder participants. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1245857. [PMID: 37954185 PMCID: PMC10637657 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1245857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In Industry 4.0, collaborative tasks often involve operators working with collaborative robots (cobots) in shared workspaces. Many aspects of the operator's well-being within this environment still need in-depth research. Moreover, these aspects are expected to differ between neurotypical (NT) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) operators. Methods This study examines behavioral patterns in 16 participants (eight neurotypical, eight with high-functioning ASD) during an assembly task in an industry-like lab-based robotic collaborative cell, enabling the detection of potential risks to their well-being during industrial human-robot collaboration. Each participant worked on the task for five consecutive days, 3.5 h per day. During these sessions, six video clips of 10 min each were recorded for each participant. The videos were used to extract quantitative behavioral data using the NOVA annotation tool and analyzed qualitatively using an ad-hoc observational grid. Also, during the work sessions, the researchers took unstructured notes of the observed behaviors that were analyzed qualitatively. Results The two groups differ mainly regarding behavior (e.g., prioritizing the robot partner, gaze patterns, facial expressions, multi-tasking, and personal space), adaptation to the task over time, and the resulting overall performance. Discussion This result confirms that NT and ASD participants in a collaborative shared workspace have different needs and that the working experience should be tailored depending on the end-user's characteristics. The findings of this study represent a starting point for further efforts to promote well-being in the workplace. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work comparing NT and ASD participants in a collaborative industrial scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Mondellini
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy, Lecco, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
| | - Pooja Prajod
- Department of Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Matteo Lavit Nicora
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy, Lecco, Italy
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mattia Chiappini
- Scientific Institute, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico E. Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | - Ettore Micheletti
- Scientific Institute, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico E. Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | - Fabio Alexander Storm
- Scientific Institute, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico E. Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | - Rocco Vertechy
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisabeth André
- Department of Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Matteo Malosio
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy, Lecco, Italy
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Costantini S, Chiappini M, Malerba G, Dei C, Falivene A, Arlati S, Colombo V, Biffi E, Storm FA. Wrist-Worn Sensor Validation for Heart Rate Variability and Electrodermal Activity Detection in a Stressful Driving Environment. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 23:8423. [PMID: 37896517 PMCID: PMC10611310 DOI: 10.3390/s23208423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Wearable sensors are widely used to gather psychophysiological data in the laboratory and real-world applications. However, the accuracy of these devices should be carefully assessed. The study focused on testing the accuracy of the Empatica 4 (E4) wristband for the detection of heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA) metrics in stress-inducing conditions and growing-risk driving scenarios. Fourteen healthy subjects were recruited for the experimental campaign, where HRV and EDA were recorded over six experimental conditions (Baseline, Video Clip, Scream, No-Risk Driving, Low-Risk Driving, and High-Risk Driving) and by means of two measurement systems: the E4 device and a gold standard system. The overall quality of the E4 data was investigated; agreement and reliability were assessed by performing a Bland-Altman analysis and by computing the Spearman's correlation coefficient. HRV time-domain parameters reported high reliability levels in Baseline (r > 0.72), Video Clip (r > 0.71), and No-Risk Driving (r > 0.67), while HRV frequency domain parameters were sufficient in Baseline (r > 0.58), Video Clip (r > 0.59), No-Risk (r > 0.51), and Low-Risk Driving (r > 0.52). As for the EDA parameters, no correlation was found. Further studies could enhance the HRV and EDA quality through further optimizations of the acquisition protocol and improvement of the processing algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Costantini
- Scientific Institute I.R.C.C.S. “E. Medea”, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy; (M.C.); (G.M.); (C.D.); (A.F.); (E.B.); (F.A.S.)
| | - Mattia Chiappini
- Scientific Institute I.R.C.C.S. “E. Medea”, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy; (M.C.); (G.M.); (C.D.); (A.F.); (E.B.); (F.A.S.)
| | - Giorgia Malerba
- Scientific Institute I.R.C.C.S. “E. Medea”, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy; (M.C.); (G.M.); (C.D.); (A.F.); (E.B.); (F.A.S.)
| | - Carla Dei
- Scientific Institute I.R.C.C.S. “E. Medea”, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy; (M.C.); (G.M.); (C.D.); (A.F.); (E.B.); (F.A.S.)
| | - Anna Falivene
- Scientific Institute I.R.C.C.S. “E. Medea”, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy; (M.C.); (G.M.); (C.D.); (A.F.); (E.B.); (F.A.S.)
| | - Sara Arlati
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy, 23900 Lecco, Italy; (S.A.); (V.C.)
| | - Vera Colombo
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy, 23900 Lecco, Italy; (S.A.); (V.C.)
| | - Emilia Biffi
- Scientific Institute I.R.C.C.S. “E. Medea”, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy; (M.C.); (G.M.); (C.D.); (A.F.); (E.B.); (F.A.S.)
| | - Fabio Alexander Storm
- Scientific Institute I.R.C.C.S. “E. Medea”, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy; (M.C.); (G.M.); (C.D.); (A.F.); (E.B.); (F.A.S.)
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Storm FA, Redaelli DF, Biffi E, Reni G, Fraschini P. Additive Manufacturing of Spinal Braces: Evaluation of Production Process and Postural Stability in Patients with Scoliosis. Materials (Basel) 2022; 15:6221. [PMID: 36143533 PMCID: PMC9502321 DOI: 10.3390/ma15186221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Spinal orthoses produced using additive manufacturing show great potential for obtaining patient-specific solutions in clinical applications, reducing manual operations, time consumption, and material waste. This study was conducted to evaluate the production process of spinal orthoses produced by additive manufacturing, and to test the effects of 3D-printed braces on postural stability in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and osteogenesis imperfecta. Ten patients were recruited consecutively and were asked to wear a spinal orthosis produced by additive manufacturing for 2 weeks. The four phases of the production process for each brace were evaluated separately on a scale from 0 (not acceptable) to 3 (optimal). Postural stability in the unbraced and the two braced conditions (3D-printed and conventional) was assessed using validated metrics obtained from a wearable inertial sensor. The production process was evaluated as good in four cases, acceptable in five cases, and not acceptable in one case, due to problems in the printing phase. No statistically significant differences were observed in any of the postural balance metrics between the 3D-printed and conventional brace. On the other hand, postural balance metrics improved significantly with both types of braces with respect to the unbraced condition. Spinal orthoses produced with an innovative production process based on digital scans, CAD, and 3D printing are valid alternatives to conventionally produced orthoses, providing equivalent postural stability.
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Ronca A, Abbate V, Redaelli DF, Storm FA, Cesaro G, De Capitani C, Sorrentino A, Colombo G, Fraschini P, Ambrosio L. A Comparative Study for Material Selection in 3D Printing of Scoliosis Back Brace. Materials (Basel) 2022; 15:ma15165724. [PMID: 36013868 PMCID: PMC9413111 DOI: 10.3390/ma15165724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, many research studies have focused on the application of 3D printing in the production of orthopaedic back braces. Several advantages, such as the ability to customise complex shapes, improved therapeutic effect and reduced production costs place this technology at the forefront in the ongoing evolution of the orthopaedic sector. In this work, four different materials, two of them poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and two of them poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol) (PETG), were characterised from a thermal, mechanical, rheological and morphological point of view. Our aim was to understand the effects of the material properties on the quality and functionality of a 3D-printed device. The specimens were cut from 3D-printed hemi-cylinders in two different orientation angles. Our results show that PETG-based samples have the best mechanical properties in terms of elastic modulus and elongation at break. The PLA-based samples demonstrated typical brittle behaviour, with elongation at break one order of magnitude lower. Impact tests demonstrated that the PETG-based samples had better properties in terms of energy absorption. Moreover, 3D-printed PETG samples demonstrated a better surface finishing with a more homogenous fibre-fibre interface. In summary, we demonstrate that the right choice of material and printing conditions are fundamental to satisfy the quality and functionality required for a scoliosis back brace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Ronca
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Via Previati 1/C, 23900 Lecco, Italy
| | - Valentina Abbate
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Via Previati 1/C, 23900 Lecco, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
| | - Davide Felice Redaelli
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Systems and Technologies for Advanced Manufacturing (STIIMA) National Research Council of Italy, Via Previati 1/C, 23900 Lecco, Italy
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza 20, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Fabio Alexander Storm
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza 20, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Giacomo Cesaro
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Cristina De Capitani
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Via Previati 1/C, 23900 Lecco, Italy
| | - Andrea Sorrentino
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Via Previati 1/C, 23900 Lecco, Italy
| | - Giorgio Colombo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via G. La Masa, 1, 20156 Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Fraschini
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza 20, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Luigi Ambrosio
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
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Storm FA, Cesareo A, Reni G, Biffi E. Wearable Inertial Sensors to Assess Gait during the 6-Minute Walk Test: A Systematic Review. Sensors (Basel) 2020; 20:E2660. [PMID: 32384806 PMCID: PMC7249076 DOI: 10.3390/s20092660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Wearable sensors are becoming increasingly popular for complementing classical clinical assessments of gait deficits. The aim of this review is to examine the existing knowledge by systematically reviewing a large number of papers focusing on the use of wearable inertial sensors for the assessment of gait during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), a widely recognized, simple, non-invasive, low-cost and reproducible exercise test. After a systematic search on PubMed and Scopus databases, two raters evaluated the quality of 28 full-text articles. Then, the available knowledge was summarized regarding study design, subjects enrolled (number of patients and pathological condition, if any, age, male/female ratio), sensor characteristics (type, number, sampling frequency, range) and body placement, 6MWT protocol and extracted parameters. Results were critically discussed to suggest future directions for the use of inertial sensor devices in the clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Alexander Storm
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS “E. Medea”, Bioengineering Lab, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy; (A.C.); (G.R.); (E.B.)
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Beretta E, Storm FA, Strazzer S, Frascarelli F, Petrarca M, Colazza A, Cordone G, Biffi E, Morganti R, Maghini C, Piccinini L, Reni G, Castelli E. Effect of Robot-Assisted Gait Training in a Large Population of Children With Motor Impairment Due to Cerebral Palsy or Acquired Brain Injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2019; 101:106-112. [PMID: 31562873 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2019.08.479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate retrospectively the effect of robotic rehabilitation in a large group of children with motor impairment; an additional goal was to identify the effects in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and acquired brain injury (ABI) and with different levels of motor impairment according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Finally, we examined the effect of time elapsed from injury on children's functions. DESIGN A cohort, pretest-posttest retrospective study was conducted. SETTING Hospitalized care. PARTICIPANTS A total of 182 children, 110 with ABI and 72 with CP and with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-IV, were evaluated retrospectively. INTERVENTIONS Patients underwent a combined treatment of robot-assisted gait training and physical therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES All the patients were evaluated before and after the training using the 6-minute walk test and the Gross Motor Function Measure. A linear mixed model with 3 fixed factors and 1 random factor was used to evaluate improvements. RESULTS The 6-minute walk test showed improvement in the whole group and in both ABI and CP. The Gross Motor Function Measure showed improvement in the whole group and in the patients with ABI but not in children with CP. The GMFCS analysis showed that all outcomes improved significantly in all classes within the ABI subgroup, whereas improvements were significant only for GMFCS III in children with CP. CONCLUSIONS Children with motor impairment can benefit from a combination of robotic rehabilitation and physical therapy. Our data suggest positive results for the whole group and substantial differences between ABI and CP subgroups, with better results for children with ABI, that seem to be consistently related to time elapsed from injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Beretta
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea," Acquired Brain Injury Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
| | - Fabio Alexander Storm
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea," Bioengineering Laboratory, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Sandra Strazzer
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea," Acquired Brain Injury Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Petrarca
- Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Neurorehabilitation Units, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Colazza
- Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Neurorehabilitation Units, Rome, Italy
| | - Giampietro Cordone
- Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Neurorehabilitation Units, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilia Biffi
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea," Bioengineering Laboratory, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Roberta Morganti
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea," Bioengineering Laboratory, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Cristina Maghini
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea", Functional Rehabilitation Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Luigi Piccinini
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea", Functional Rehabilitation Unit, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Reni
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS "E. Medea," Bioengineering Laboratory, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Enrico Castelli
- Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Neurorehabilitation Units, Rome, Italy
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