NSF Engineering Research Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering

NSF 感觉运动神经工程工程研究中心

• 批准号: 1028725
• 负责人: Rajesh Rao
• 金额: $ 1817.5万
• 依托单位: University of Washington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-08-15 至 2021-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1028725&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; Engineering; Research; Center; Sensorimotor

Over the last decade, the field of neural engineering has demonstrated to the world that a computer cursor, a wheelchair, or a simple prosthetic limb can be controlled using direct brain-machine and brain-computer neural signals. However, technologies that allow such accomplishments do not yet enable versatile and highly complex interactions with sophisticated environments. Today's intelligent systems and robots can neither sense nor move like biological systems, and devices implanted in or interfaced with neural systems cannot process neural data robustly, safely, and in a functionally meaningful way. Doing so requires a critical missing ingredient: a novel, neural-inspired approach based on a deep understanding of how biological systems acquire and process information. This is the focus of this proposal.The NSF ERC for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering (ERC/SNE or "Center") will become a global hub for delivering neural-inspired sensorimotor devices. Using devices that mine the rich data in neural signals available from implantable, wearable, and interactive interfaces, the ERC/SNE will build end-to-end integrated systems. Examples include: implantable neurochips that can activate paralyzed limbs by electrically stimulating muscles or nerve roots; stationary robots that extract neural signals from a user's touch to provide home-based, post-stroke therapy; neural-controlled adaptive prosthetic limbs that provide sophisticated sensory feedback, and wearable caps that control external exploration devices. Unlike traditional approaches that stress accommodation to the needs of people with neurological disabilities, the ERC/SNE will focus on proactive technologies that provide seamless and adaptive person-machine interaction. It will accomplish this mission with three core engineering thrusts: (1) communication and interface design for devices and data management, (2) reverse and forward engineering of neural systems and neural-inspired devices, and (3) control and adaptation technologies that express sensorimotor functions for individual needs.The ERC/SNE will nurture future global multidisciplinary leaders. It will develop middle and high school project-based curricula that introduce neural engineering principles to students underrepresented in engineering. It will create multi-institution, undergraduate and graduate Neural Engineering courses with new degree structures and develop vertical research mentoring chains to build a strong research culture from faculty to K-12. It will build long-lasting and deep relationships through faculty and student exchange programs across all disciplines and partnering institutions, with a goal of removing barriers in communication across different fields, countries, and diverse backgrounds. The neural engineering field creates new pathways from the less quantitatively-based biological sciences to the more quantitatively-based engineering fields as well as pathways for people with disabilities to work in an engineering field that addresses their own experience and needs. The women and underrepresented minorities who currently account for over 40% of the Center's leadership team will serve as role models for students and starting faculty. Further, the ERC/SNE will extend its impact by identifying key technologies according to market significance and technical risk. The Center's portfolio will be constructed to deliver a steady stream of innovations over the near and long term. Its industry partnership structure includes not only small and large firms that will help shape Center IPs, but also hospitals and investment firms that will ground research activities to technologies that will truly assist people in need and steer future neural engineering market directions.The ERC/NSE will strive to enhance the human experience both for persons with neurological disabilities and for the coming generation of global and diverse engineering innovators. The Center's seasoned, multi-disciplinary team will transform healthcare, manufacturing, and the educational infrastructure to guarantee neural engineering global leadership.

在过去的十年中，神经工程领域已经向世界证明，可以使用直接的脑机和脑机神经信号来控制计算机光标、轮椅或简单的假肢。然而，实现此类成就的技术尚不能实现与复杂环境的多功能且高度复杂的交互。当今的智能系统和机器人既不能像生物系统那样感知也不能移动，并且植入神经系统或与神经系统连接的设备无法以具有功能意义的方式稳健、安全地处理神经数据。这样做需要一个关键的缺失要素：一种基于对生物系统如何获取和处理信息的深入理解的新颖的、受神经启发的方法。这是本提案的重点。NSF 感觉运动神经工程 ERC（ERC/SNE 或“中心”）将成为提供受神经启发的感觉运动设备的全球中心。 ERC/SNE 将使用可从可植入、可穿戴和交互式界面中挖掘神经信号中丰富数据的设备来构建端到端集成系统。例子包括：可通过电刺激肌肉或神经根来激活瘫痪肢体的植入式神经芯片；固定机器人从用户的触摸中提取神经信号，以提供家庭中风后治疗；神经控制的自适应假肢提供复杂的感觉反馈，以及控制外部探索设备的可穿戴帽子。与强调满足神经障碍患者需求的传统方法不同，ERC/SNE 将重点关注提供无缝和自适应人机交互的主动技术。它将通过三个核心工程主旨来完成这一使命：（1）设备和数据管理的通信和接口设计，（2）神经系统和神经启发设备的逆向和正向工程，以及（3）表达的控制和适应技术满足个人需求的感觉运动功能。ERC/SNE 将培养未来的全球多学科领导者。它将开发基于项目的初中和高中课程，向工程领域代表性不足的学生介绍神经工程原理。它将创建具有新学位结构的多机构、本科生和研究生神经工程课程，并开发垂直研究指导链，以建立从教师到 K-12 的强大研究文化。它将通过跨学科和合作机构的教师和学生交流项目建立持久而深入的关系，目标是消除不同领域、国家和不同背景之间的沟通障碍。神经工程领域创造了从定量性较低的生物科学到定量性较高的工程领域的新途径，并为残疾人在满足其自身经验和需求的工程领域工作提供了途径。目前占该中心领导团队 40% 以上的女性和代表性不足的少数族裔将成为学生和新教师的榜样。此外，ERC/SNE 将根据市场重要性和技术风险确定关键技术，扩大其影响。该中心的投资组合将在近期和长期内提供源源不断的创新。其行业合作伙伴结构不仅包括帮助塑造中心知识产权的小型和大型公司，还包括医院和投资公司，他们将研究活动建立在真正帮助有需要的人并引导未来神经工程市场方向的技术上。ERC/NSE将努力增强神经障碍人士和下一代全球多元化工程创新者的人类体验。该中心经验丰富的多学科团队将改造医疗保健、制造和教育基础设施，以确保神经工程的全球领先地位。