Sensorimotor and Cognitive Wearable Augmentation Devices

Dear Colleagues,

Wearable technology is an emerging trend of personal devices that integrates electronics, which can be worn on any part of the body, to fit challenges in our lifestyles. Wearable robots can be used to augment human motor functions and enhance physical capabilities, typically in manipulation and locomotion tasks. Motor augmentative technologies may include (i) exoskeletons that mirror the human kinematic structure to enhance his/her capabilities beyond the natural ones; (ii) prosthesis that physically substitutes missing limb; and (iii) supernumerary robotic limbs that enable additional degrees of freedom to empower human movements. There is also increased interest in user-oriented wearable devices to make up for a loss-of-sensory function, including somatosensory and sense of touch, as a result of a spectrum of injuries and diseases. Augmented reality and haptic wearables have stood out to address sensory impairments. Together with the design of sensorimotor augmentation devices, technologies that target the cognitive augmentation of human capabilities are rising. Cognitive augmentation focuses on the improvement of the processes of acquiring/generating knowledge and understanding the world around us. Overall, these technologies can augment and enhance humans in a variety of contexts, such as in medical, industrial, and consumer domains. This Special Issue aims to present the latest results and future roles in emerging wearable technologies to augment and enhance humans in sensorimotor and cognitive functions. Contributions may include but are not limited to presenting control–feedback interfaces; the bilateral interface between the robot and the human; the effects and benchmarks of augmentative technologies. It also covers understanding the complexity of designing wearable, intuitive, and non-intrusive devices for real applications.

Dr. Cristina P. Santos
Dr. Joana Figueiredo
Guest Editors

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