Sensing

A primary motivation of our research is the monitoring of physical, physiological, and biochemical parameters - in any environment and without activity restriction and behaviour modification - through using miniaturised, wireless Body Sensor Networks (BSN). Key research issues that are currently being addressed include novel sensor designs, ultra-low power microprocessor and wireless platforms, energy scavenging, biocompatibility, system integration and miniaturisation, processing-on-node technologies combined with novel ASIC design, autonomic sensor networks and light-weight communication protocols. Our research is aimed at addressing the future needs of life-long health, wellbeing and healthcare, particularly those related to demographic changes associated with an ageing population and patients with chronic illnesses. This research theme is therefore closely aligned with the IGHI’s vision of providing safe, effective and accessible technologies for both developed and developing countries.

2 column colour block - Research areas

Body Sensor Networks

Body Sensor Networks

The last decade has witnessed a rapid surge of interest in new sensing and monitoring devices for healthcare and the use of wireless wearable devices for clinical applications. One key development in this area is implantable in vivo monitoring and intervention devices.
Surgical Implants

Surgical Implants

One of the major focuses of the Hamlyn Centre is the development of miniaturised sensors embodied either as smart surgical appliances or implants to enhance the safety of surgical procedures, enhance patient care, and also the patient's quality of life.

2 column colour block - Research areas 2

ESPRIT

IoT and Smart Environments

Our main research in IoT and smart environments is focussed on the challenges of ambient sensing through the introduction of novel sensing platforms, self-configuration approaches, self-adaptive techniques, and seamless integration with wearable sensors.
Smart Environments

ESPRIT

The vision of ESPRIT is to position UK at the forefront of pervasive sensing in elite sports and promote its wider application in public life-long health, wellbeing and healthcare. Our work addresses some of the key challenges related to miniaturised wearable sensors for sports.

Citation

BibTex format

@inproceedings{Schmitz:2017:10.1109/IROS.2017.8202259,
author = {Schmitz, A and Thompson, AJ and Berthet-Rayne, P and Seneci, CA and Wisanuvej, P and Yang, GZ},
doi = {10.1109/IROS.2017.8202259},
pages = {947--952},
publisher = {IEEE},
title = {Shape sensing of miniature snake-like robots using optical fibers},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/IROS.2017.8202259},
year = {2017}
}
Download

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Snake like continuum robots are increasingly used for minimally invasive surgery. Most robotic devices of this sort that have been reported to date are controlled in an open loop manner. Using shape sensing to provide closed loop feedback would allow for more accurate control of the robot's position and, hence, more precise surgery. Fiber Bragg Gratings, magnetic sensors and optical reflectance sensors have all been reported for this purpose but are often limited by their cost, size, stiffness or complexity of fabrication. To address this issue, we designed, manufactured and tested a prototype two-link robot with a built-in fiber-optic shape sensor that can deliver and control the position of a CO 2 -laser fiber for soft tissue ablation. The shape sensing is based on optical reflectance, and the device (which has a 4 mm outer diameter) is fabricated using 3D printing. Here we present proof-of-concept results demonstrating successful shape sensing - i.e. measurement of the angular displacement of the upper link of the robot relative to the lower link - in real time with a mean measurement error of only 0.7°.
AU  - Schmitz,A
AU  - Thompson,AJ
AU  - Berthet-Rayne,P
AU  - Seneci,CA
AU  - Wisanuvej,P
AU  - Yang,GZ
DO  - 10.1109/IROS.2017.8202259
EP  - 952
PB  - IEEE
PY  - 2017///
SN  - 2153-0858
SP  - 947
TI  - Shape sensing of miniature snake-like robots using optical fibers
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/IROS.2017.8202259
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/57524
ER  -
Download