Intermediate
Computational
Have you ever had the desire to lose your free will? Or, alternatively, have you ever had the desire to take someone’s free will? Now you can with our new “Human-Human-Interface Experiment.”
You should become familiar with how to use your Muscle SpikerShield and an Arduino
In a continuation of our 1) Neuroprosthetics Experiment and 2) Muscle SpikerShield Experiment, you will learn how to use your muscle signal to control other devices, in this case, a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator) to excite and contract the muscle of another human.
Note: A TENS unit by definition delivers enough current to cause muscle contraction. Do not place electrodes across the muscles of the throat or the chest. This experiment is appropriate for college students. Adult supervision is needed for younger (high school) users.
We have previously discussed “neuroprosthetics,” that is, designing a machine that interfaces with living neurons to control a device or for sensory substitution. But what about muscles? If people have damage to their spinal nerves, the muscles themselves can be stimulated, and this line of research is called “functional electrical stimulation.”
For example, functional electrical stimulation can often be used to help someone stand up, or to improve walking by helping to swing a foot forward.
In addition, if someone has an artificial limb, such as a robotic arm, they can use the electrical activity generated by the electromyographic signals in their pectoral muscles to control the motors and control systems in the robotic arm.
A notable example is Jesse Sullivan, who lost his arms during an electrical installation. There is also a company called RSLSTEEPER that has developed a bionic arm called the “bebionic3” which functions on very similar principles, but uses muscular activity in the amputee’s stump to control the wrist and hand movements.
Fans of the RoboRoach have often asked us: “When will you get this working on humans?” We responded and solved this customer request by launching our “Society” invention. But many people were left unsatisfied. They wanted something more direct.
On the other hand, critics of the RoboRoach have often asked us: “How would you like it if someone controlled you with electrical stimulation?” Now, after months in the research lab, we finally now have the answer, and it is…
“…it depends.”
If you like who is controlling you, the feeling can be quite nice.
Your HHI arduino comes pre-loaded with the HHI code. If you use your arduino for other projects, if you accidentally press the reset button, or would like to adjust the thresholds, you will have to re-upload the code! You can do this with the Arduino software. If you are new to Arduino and need to learn how to upload code, check out this helpful guide.
Download our Arduino(.ino) Human-Human-Interface Sketch. Check out the comments for some insight into how it works! (You can also use this code for the Claw experiment!)
Place two EMG electrodes on the forearm, one on the back of the hand, and clip on the EMG cables using the alligator clips. Reds on the forearm muscle and black on the back of the hand.
Place two EMG electrodes on the forearm, one on the back of the hand, and clip on the EMG cables using the alligator clips. Reds on the forearm muscle and black on the back of the hand.
Place two EMG electrodes on the forearm, one on the back of the hand, and clip on the EMG cables using the alligator clips. Reds on the forearm muscle and black on the back of the hand.
First, you need to set the frequency of the TENS device by sliding down the front face of the black TENS device: we set a ~50-80 ms pulse duration and a 10-20 Hz frequency.
First, you need to set the frequency of the TENS device by sliding down the front face of the black TENS device: we set a ~50-80 ms pulse duration and a 10-20 Hz frequency.
First, you need to set the frequency of the TENS device by sliding down the front face of the black TENS device: we set a ~50-80 ms pulse duration and a 10-20 Hz frequency.
To disarm the experiment, first turn off the TENS device totally. Then have the Controller remove their electrodes, and finally, free the controlled from their clips.
To disarm the experiment, first turn off the TENS device totally. Then have the Controller remove their electrodes, and finally, free the controlled from their clips.
To disarm the experiment, first turn off the TENS device totally. Then have the Controller remove their electrodes, and finally, free the controlled from their clips.
To disarm the experiment, first turn off the TENS device totally. Then have the Controller remove their electrodes, and finally, free the controlled from their clips.
To disarm the experiment, first turn off the TENS device totally. Then have the Controller remove their electrodes, and finally, free the controlled from their clips.
To disarm the experiment, first turn off the TENS device totally. Then have the Controller remove their electrodes, and finally, free the controlled from their clips.
These experiment works because the ulnar nerve lies just below the surface of the skin in your forearm and elbow, and it is relatively easy to stimulate. Putting the electrodes in other places on the arm stimulates the muscles more than the nerves. While someone could place more pairs of stimulating electrodes on the arm, the movements will always appear “jerky” due to stimulation thresholds and types of muscle fibers activated.
Some research groups have had success with analogous experiments, but the set-up is more complicated and susceptible to false positives. EMG is much easier to amplify and control things with.
