The Mind-Controlled Prosthetic Arm : Integrum’s e-OPRA™ Implant System at the CYBATHLON 2020
The CYBATHLON is an international multi-sport event in which contestants with physical disabilities compete using the most advanced technical assistance systems. The competition aims to promote and drive the continuous development and exchange of knowledge within assistive technology.
Also known as Cyborg Olympics, CYBATHLON is held every four years. The second CYBATHLON takes place on November 13th-14th 2020, at each team’s home base. On the day of the competition, the contestants will start individually under the supervision of local CYBATHLON officials
Team Sweden
This year, Sweden will be represented by two contestants, both of whom are recipients of Integrum’s e-OPRA™ Implant System. They will be participating in the discipline “Powered-Arm Prosthesis Race”. The goal of this discipline is to perform six different tasks, all of which are all related to daily life activities. All six tasks need to be perfomed within an 8-minute time limit.
In some tasks, the contestants are permitted to use both hands and arms, as well as other parts of the body to carry out the tasks, such as cutting bread for breakfast. In other tasks, contestants are challenged to demonstrate fine motor skills with their prosthesis, for example hanging up the laundry.
New for CYBATHLON 2020, Global Edition, is a third type of task, the “Haptic Box”. In this task, contestants face the challenge of being unable to see the objects they are to touch; they must rely entirely upon the tactile feedback of their prosthetic hand to identify the objects.
Photo of Magnus Niska, the first person who upgraded the OPRA™ Implant System to e-OPRA™, solving the Laundry Task in the CYBATHLON 2016. He also represents Sweden in the CYBATHLON this year.
The two Swedish contestants are supported by a team comprised of several professionals from Chalmers University of Technology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Integrum AB. The team leader and coach is Dr. Max Ortiz Catalan, Associate Professor and Head of the Bionics Research Unit at the Electrical Engineering Department at Chalmers University of Technology.
Competition Arena in Sweden
- Date and time: The preliminary rounds will take place on Friday, November 13, from 10:30 to 15:30 (GMT+2). If the Chalmers team qualifies for the final, they will compete in the same place on November 14.
- Location: Ljusgården in the building Samhällsbyggnad I-II, entrance from Sven Hultins Gata 6, Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg.
More information about the competition can be found on the Cybathlon website.