| Hartmann
Lab |
Biomedical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Northwestern University Institute for Neuroscience (NUIN) |
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Northwestern
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Research
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| Research | JOB OPPORTUNITIES Post-doctoral Graduate (PhD, MS) Undergraduate |
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We currently have six main projects in the laboratory. An overview of the six projects is provided here at the top of the page, and more details about each project can be found below the overview. |
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We have constructed several artificial
whisker arrays. The arrays can determine object distance and extract
complex 3d object features, including texture. Research
made possible in part by funding from the National
Science Foundation
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We are recording from the trigeminal
ganglion and
nuclei to understand how information is encoded and processed in the
early stages of the nervous system.
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We are investigating the use of whisker
arrays
to improve rover autonomy. For example, future Mars Rovers
may be able to use whiskers to create a terrain map and to determine
soil characteristics and rock
texture. Research
made possible in part by funding from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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We
are investigating the mechanical characteristics of the rat
whisker array. Current projects include precise
characterizations of
the 3-dimensional shape of the whisker array and the flexural
properties of whiskers. Research made possible in part by
funding from the National Science
Foundation
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We are training rats to perform a
spatial discrimination task, and examining the relationship between head and whisker
movements.
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In collaboration with the LIMS lab, we have been
investigating how two humans interact with a robot. Research made possible in part by
funding from the National Science
Foundation
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| The MechE Mouse Project (Robotic Whisker
Arrays) |
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ACTIVE
WHISKER ARRAYS FOR OBJECT FEATURE EXTRACTION Graduate
student Joe Solomon constructed an artificial whisker array that can
extract object shape. Preliminary
results were presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Society for
Neuroscience and have been accepted to the 2005 International
Conference on Robotics and Automation (see Publications)
COMPARING BINARY AND ANALOG WHISKER SENSORS FOR OBJECT FEATURE EXTRACTION Undergraduates
Jean-Michel Mongeau and Anuja Desikan have been comparing the use of
binary (contact
switch) and analog (force-sensing) artificial whiskers for object
feature extraction. Their work has involved both computer simulation
and constructing artificial arrays.
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| Neurophysiology of the Rat Trigeminal
System |
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RECORDINGS
FROM NEURONS OF THE TRIGEMINAL PATHWAY Graduate student Blythe Towal has recently obtained our lab's first physiological recordings. The recordings on the right show multiunit bursting activity from cerebellar folium Crus IIa; we plan to record soon from the trigeminal ganglion and nuclei. |
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| Rover Navigation and Exploration with
Whiskers |
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PASSIVE WHISKER ARRAYS FOR
AUTONOMOUS ROVER NAVIGATION Aimee Schultz and Alex Birdwell have been exploring the use of whisker arrays to aid in autonomous rover navigation. This work was recently accepted to the 2005 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (see Publications) |
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| Neuromechanics |
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THE 3-DIMENSIONAL SHAPE OF THE RAT VIBRISSAL ARRAY Undergraduate
Myron Kim has been using RapidForm to extract the full 3-dimensional
shape of a rat's
head and whiskers.
THE FLEXURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RAT VIBRISSAE Using a
sensitive micromechanical tester, graduate students Ploy Thajchayapong,
Alex Birdwell, and Mike Taylor have been quantifying the flexural
(bending) characteristics of rat whiskers. Preliminary
results were presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Society for
Neuroscience (see Publications)
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| Rat Whisking Behavior |
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HEAD
AND WHISKER MOVEMENTS IN THE FREELY BEHAVING RAT Using
high speed video recordings during active behaviors, graduate students Jim Rebesco and Blythe Towal are
examining the relationship between head and whisker movements in the
freely moving animal. Caltech undergraduate
Katie Stoy (currently a
senior) also worked on this
project.
Undergraduates
Ben Paul and Allison Ullom have been training rats to perform a spatial discrimination task
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| Human Robot Human Interaction |
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Kyle Reed, a graduate student in the LIMS lab, has been exploring the process of kinesthetic interaction between two individuals. |
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