A method to test FES-based control strategies for neuroprostheses

This paper aims at presenting some research issues carried out by the SINPHA-11-068/2007 project which focus on the functional movement restoration of paralyzed limbs by the use of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). The main goal is to restore standing in paraplegia by means of the FES techniques and to test different control strategies that have to be embedded within a neuroprosthesis. Prior to use a neuroprosthesis on disabled people within a clinical environment, we propose that any new control strategy to be tested in simulation and on a mechatronic device that emulate the human body movements while an electrical stimulus is supposed to be applied over the controlled groups of muscles. Our tests have shown that a mechatronic device that mimic the human body movements while standing-up, standing and sitting-down in paraplegia may offer a better understanding on how to tune controller parameters for different control strategies that aim to support standing exercises in paraplegia.