KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 25, 2024

A research project conducted by Kennesaw State University sophomore Britt Walker aims to provide personalized hand rehabilitation through the use of a 3D-printed robotic glove.

Walker's project, “Development of Soft Robotic Hand Data Glove for Rehabilitation and Gesture Recognition” gathers data on hands and hand movements to facilitate the creation of a device that can assist in hand rehabilitation.

“My project is important because it can help with hand rehabilitation for people suffering from stroke, hand impairments or other traumatic injuries,” Walker said.

Walker is conducting this research through the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), which is offered through the Office of Undergraduate Research.

To design the prototype, Walker used Computer Aided Design (CAD), specifically Solid Works. CAD is a software that allows designers and engineers to visualize the construction of a prototype in 3D or 2D so they can make adjustments and optimize the design before attempting to print it. In addition to CAD and 3D printing, Walker is also using the Arduino Data Logger to record his data.

The project is a piece of a larger project that intends to provide data about hand movements. Eventually, this data will be included in a device that can rehabilitate hands.

“In the future, the data gathered from this glove will be used in tandem with electromyography or ultrasonic sensors in the forearm to collect training data sets for AI to use in devices that can assist with rehabilitation,” Walker said.

Walker has greatly benefited from his time spent with his primary investigator (PI) for the project, Coskun Tekes, assistant professor of computer engineering in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

— Alyssa Ozment