Limbo: Reprogramming Body-Control System

This project aims to create technologies to support people who have lost the ability to control a certain part of their body, or who are attempting sophisticated tasks beyond their capabilities, using wearable sensing and actuating techniques. Our strategy is to mix a body gesture/signal detection system and a muscle actuating/limiting system, and to reprogram the way human body parts are controlled. For example, individuals with paralysis could regain the experience of grasping with their hands by actuating hand muscles based on gaze gestures. Individuals who have lost leg control could control their legs with finger movement—and be able to drive a car without special assistance. Individuals handling very fragile objects could limit their grasping strength using voice commands (i.e., "not stronger," "weaker"). A person with a specific skill could help another complete a complicated task via another's body control system.