Design of a Low-Cost VR-Based Robotic Pedal System with Dynamic Resistance and Muscle Activity Feedback

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Robotics

Background:

• Lower-limb rehabilitation often requires specialized equipment and supervision.
• Interactive technologies like virtual reality (VR) offer potential for engaging and motivating rehabilitation exercises.
• Affordable, accessible systems are needed to facilitate at-home rehabilitation programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate the usability of an affordable VR-integrated robotic pedal system for lower-limb rehabilitation.
• To assess the system's effectiveness in improving key rehabilitation metrics such as cadence and symmetry.
• To gather clinician feedback on the system's potential for home-based use.

Main Methods:

• Development of a VR-integrated robotic pedal system with real-time cadence monitoring, dynamic resistance, and electromyography (EMG) sensors.
• Usability evaluation involving 7 healthy participants performing exercises within the VR environment.
• Collection of participant data on cadence and symmetry, alongside clinician feedback.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated increased cadence and improved symmetry scores when using the VR system.
• The system's features, including dynamic resistance and monitoring, were positively received.
• Clinician feedback indicated strong potential for the device in supporting at-home rehabilitation.

Conclusions:

• The VR-integrated robotic pedal system is a promising, affordable tool for enhancing lower-limb rehabilitation.
• Interactive gaming elements within VR can motivate users and improve rehabilitation outcomes.
• Further development, particularly in EMG sensor calibration, is recommended for optimal performance.