Descripción del proyecto
Descifrar el código neuronal del tacto
El tacto nos permite recibir información sobre nuestro entorno externo a través de receptores específicos en la piel que transmiten mensajes al encéfalo. Descifrar el código neuronal de la percepción táctil puede hacer avanzar los sistemas de detección artificiales empleados en robots y prótesis. En el proyecto NeuTouch, financiado con fondos europeos, se formará a jóvenes investigadores en disciplinas que les permitan estudiar y recapitular los sistemas táctiles y la percepción neuromórfica en manos robóticas. Para ello es fundamental el desarrollo de herramientas informáticas capaces de vincular el procesamiento neuronal con el comportamiento. El objetivo del proyecto también se extiende a las prótesis para avanzar en la sustitución de las extremidades superiores perdidas con interfaces neuronales mejoradas que proporcionen información sensorial al individuo.
Objetivo
Dexterous manipulation is a fundamental skill to improve interaction capabilities of service and industrial robots, and develop prosthetic devices that enable amputees to regain hand functionality, for improving their independence and quality of life and for reintegration in working environments.
The sense of touch is crucial for any skilled manipulation; it is fundamental to establish contact and acquire the information needed for hand/object interactions, and for perceiving variations in the contact itself (slip, vibrations, duration, pressure). Touch is crucial for robots that physically interact with objects and humans, to sense the properties of objects, learn how to use them, and enable cooperation. Touch is crucial for the successful deployment of prosthetic devices, to evoke a natural sensation of contact that conveys information about the stimulus, making prostheses easier to use and accept.
NeuTouch aims at improving artificial tactile perception in robots and prostheses, by understanding how to best extract, integrate and exploit tactile information at system level.
To this aim, NeuTouch will train young researchers that will build up a novel multidisciplinary community, that will tackle fundamental questions about neural encoding of tactile information, by developing computational tools and models capable of explaining the activity in the biological neural pathway and link it to behavioral decisions. The identified underlying neuronal processing principles will guide the design of novel sensing devices and algorithms to improve tactile exploration and manipulation skills in robots and tactile feedback in prosthetic devices.
A scientifically strong international consortium is complemented by non-academic participants that recognize the impact of the proposed approach and resulting technology. All will support the professional growth of individuals, addressing entrepreneurship, communication, best practice, open science and gender equality.
Ámbito científico
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managemententrepreneurship
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologycomputational neuroscience
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants
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Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinador
16163 Genova
Italia