Mobile Music Touch
What is it? A wirelessly controlled glove that vibrates a user’s fingers to indicate which keys to play on a keyboard. It has also shown signs of improving sensation among patients with paralyzing spinal cord injuries. Who made it? Tanya Markow, PhD HCC 12, conducted the research with help from Thad Starner, an associate professor in the School of Interactive Computing; Ellen Yi-Luen Do, a professor in the Schools of Interactive Computing and Industrial Design; and Deborah Backus, director of multiple sclerosis research at Atlanta’s Shepherd Center. The glove was initially built by Kevin Huang, MS CS 09. What inspired it? Huang developed the glove while a master’s student as a tool to help people learn to play the piano. Starner saw it and knew it could have potential health benefits. Why is it game changing? A study of patients who suffered spinal cord injuries more than a year earlier showed that those who used the glove gained significant feeling. It’s rare for anyone to regain sensation that long after an injury. “After using the glove, some participants were able to feel the texture of their bedsheets and clothes for the first time since their injury,” Markow said.
Piezoelectric Generator
What is it? A self-charging power cell that uses a piezoelectric membrane (material that expands or contracts when electricity is applied) to convert mechanical energy to chemical energy and store that power until it is released as electrical current. Who made it? Zhong Lin Wang, a Regents professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering, with a team of students including Xinyu Xue, Sihong Wang, Wenxi Guo and Yan Zhang. What inspired it? While people have long assumed that electrical generation and storage must be separate, Wang believed they could be combined in a single unit. Why is it game changing? By eliminating the need to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy for charging a battery, the hybrid generator-storage cell can utilize mechanical energy more efficiently than systems using separate generators and batteries. It could harness a compressive force—like a shoe heel hitting pavement—to generate enough current to power a small calculator. “Almost anything that involves mechanical action could provide the strain needed for charging,” Wang said. “People walking could be generating electricity as they move.”
Human-like Robotic Eye
What is it? A system of piezoelectric materials, including a cellular actuator, that replicates the muscle motion of the human eye to control camera systems on robots. Who made it? Joshua Schultz, a PhD candidate, under the direction of Jun Ueda, an assistant professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering. What inspired it? Schultz said that many robotics systems are bio-inspired, so it was logical to replicate the musculature of the eye. Why is it game changing? The system will improve the accuracy of robots used in endeavors such as guided surgery and rehabilitation by making the robots’ video feeds more intuitive. “Essentially, in the human eye muscles are controlled by neural impulses,” Schultz said. “Eventually, the actuators we are developing will be used to capture the kinematics and performance of the human eye.”
3DM Otoscan
What is it? Both a noninvasive scanner that can create a 3-D
image of the inside of an ear and a super wide-angle otoscope. It is the only such device with high-definition output. Who made it? Brothers Karol Hatzilias, ME 04, and George Hatzilias, ME 98, a former faculty member at Tech. What inspired it? Previous methods to map out the inner ear involved making silicone impressions, which were invasive and potentially damaging. The brothers developed the scanner to offer a completely noninvasive scan of the ear and spun out a company, 3DM Systems, to produce the device. Why is it game changing? The 3-D scanner creates precise scans of the ear, allowing for perfectly designed custom hearing aids. It won the Best New Product award in the Audiology Solutions New Product Showcase at the annual conference of the American Academy of Audiology.
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