Towards Personalization of Robot-Assisted Motor Learning Based on User Characteristics

Towards Personalization of Robot-Assisted Motor Learning Based on User Characteristics: Haptic Guidance seems better suited for individuals with a more Internal rather than External Locus of Control

Boersma, Caspar (TU Delft Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering)

Marchal Crespo, L. (mentor)
Zgonnikov, A. (graduation committee)
Dalla Gasperina, S. (graduation committee)
Adrichem, D. (graduation committee)
de Winter, J.C.F. (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Mechanical Engineering | Vehicle Engineering | Cognitive Robotics

2023-07-04

Robots can aid in post-stroke motor function recovery and motor learning through the use of haptic feedback during collaborative training. A clear objective in robotic-assisted motor learning is to adapt the haptic feedback to individual users, but personal characteristics are not yet considered in this adaptation.

We investigated the suitability of a haptic guidance feedback strategy, based on participants’ locus of control character trait, compared to training without haptic guidance. For this purpose, a motor learning experiment was conducted on 42 healthy participants, where the internal dynamics of a pendulum had to be learned in order to hit upcoming targets. For two groups, training either with or without haptic guidance, we assessed motor learning and its generalization to similar tasks through target hitting performance, as well as behavior during training and perceived user experience.

Evidence was found of a relatively better performance improvement in both training and long-term (generalization of) motor learning for participants with a more internal compared to external locus of control. Lower observed interaction force during training and increasingly better performance throughout training
in these participants may have caused these motor learning differences. More positive user experience in these individuals through a higher perceived control over the pendulum and lower perceived frustration with haptic guidance may have also contributed.

Combined, this suggests an intrinsically better compatibility
with haptic guidance for people with a more internal rather than
external locus of control, for motor learning, during training and
in user experience

Motor Learning
Neurorehabilitation
Robotic Assistance
Haptic Guidance
Locus of Control
Personalization
Training Strategy

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:09e4f921-8df1-4da5-88ac-c0f01724913b

2024-07-04

Student theses

master thesis

© 2023 Caspar Boersma