BALANSens is an integrated robotic platform developed for the analysis, rehabilitation and support of people with neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. It combines robotic balance-platform control with several sensing modalities to produce quantitative information for rehabilitation and follow-up.
What the platform measures
- Lower-limb muscle activity through sEMG
- Regional plantar-pressure distribution
- Continuous Center of Pressure (CoP) measurement
- Joint-position feedback from servo-motor encoders
- Upper-limb support-force monitoring
A haptic bar provides tactile feedback, and virtual-reality interaction supports immersive rehabilitation and assessment. The objective is objective balance analysis, and support for choosing and evaluating rehabilitation strategies.
Funding and partners
Supported under the TÜBİTAK ARDEB 1001 programme as Robotic Platform System for Balance Analysis, Rehabilitation and Assistance with Sensory Feedforward and Feedback, 2022–2025, with Prof. Elif Hocaoğlu as Principal Investigator. The project was developed in collaboration between Istanbul Medipol University, Özyeğin University and Istanbul University.
Project team
Mahmut Beyaz
Doctoral Researcher
Human–robot interaction, variable impedance actuation and sensing for balance rehabilitation.
Emad-ud-din Sheikh
Graduate Researcher
Reactive stepping training and balance rehabilitation for fall prevention.
Related publications
Development of Proprioceptive and Vibrotactile Training Modes for BALANSens Platform
E. Sheikh, H. M. Bilal, P. Kaya & E. Hocaoglu
Medical Technologies Congress (TIPTEKNO), pp. 1–4
Impedance Control for Ankle Preparation Phase in BALANSens Platform
H. M. Bilal, M. Beyaz, R. Ünal & E. Hocaoglu
IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), pp. 490–495
sEMG-Based Assessment of Engagement in VR-Integrated BALANSens Ankle Rehabilitation
E. Hocaoglu, M. Beyaz, M. A. T. Ahmed, A. Gürlük, R. Ünal & P. Kaya
IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), pp. 1673–1678