ASMeW

Associate Professor Hiroyasu Iwata and his group were awarded First Prize in the “Academic Researchers’ Contest” sponsored by System Control Fair 2007, which was held November 13-16 at the Tokyo Big Sight.

Their research, which is considered “the world’s first locomotion rehabilitation support system based on tactile-biofeedback technology,” received the highest score from the examination committee selected by the contest sponsors and was awarded the System Control Fair 2007 Executive Committee First Prize.

The new rehabilitation system, which promotes motor recovery after strokes, is based on tactile-biofeedback from a paralyzed part of the body to a non-paralyzed part of the body. For example, contact pressure information is sent in real time from tactile sensors on the bottom of the paralyzed foot to receiving sensors placed on one of the non-paralyzed arms. Based on the received tactile information, the paralytic can determine whether or not the paralyzed foot is making proper contact with the floor or ground and, if it is not, he or she can take the appropriate corrective action with the appropriate non-paralyzed parts of the body.

System Control Fair is the largest event in the country held to introduce the technologies, systems, and software that are aimed at the future of both society and industry, while at the same time being friendly to human beings and the environment. （6photos　here）

Entrance to SCF2007	Associate Professor Iwata accepts First Prize
ASMeW research poster	The prize winners
Evaluation committee visits	First Prize certificate
-ASMeW booth-