BI3BS1: Biomechanics and Soft Technologies

Module code: BI3BS1

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Yoshikatsu Hayashi, email: y.hayashi@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor William Harwin, email: w.s.harwin@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to basic knowledge in biomechanics, soft robotics, and technologies that capitalize on the recent advancements in material science. Based on the understanding of human body in terms of biomechanics and body control, the module will explore technologies such as the flexible electrodes used as implants, the state of the art in soft robotics used in biomimicry and assistive robotics.  

In Biomechanics, we aim to give students a firm physical and mathematical concept of force and torque analysis relating to structural and motor units both within humans and animals, and as applied in automation. As such the concepts should allow students to transfer skills to other engineering disciplines, in particular mechatronics and mechanical engineering. 

The aim of Soft technologies is to introduce students to knowledge of design principles and technologies that capitalize on the recent advancements of soft material science and soft robots. Two main areas will be examined: soft and flexible electrode that are used as implants, soft robotics for assistive purposes. 

Students will be able to analyse simple engineering and biological structures, from cytoskeletons through to cantilever bridges. They will be able to estimate forces in walking and relate these to the control structures used in animals, humans and robots.  They should be able to explain the chain of forces and torques from the muscles and joints, through to the environment and understand how the body reacts, both physically and cognitively. 

Students should be able to understand the design principle of robots based on kinematics, and critically evaluate different protocols both for soft electrode and soft robotics based on active materials. Students are expected to identify and employ the literature to assess which technologies are best suited to biomimicry and assistive robotics. At module completion students will have a functional and practical understanding of soft technology. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Understand basic kinematics in robotics and human bodies to develop both conceptual and physical prototypes of soft modules for motor recovery of patients. 
2. Understand how soft materials can function when usedfor both internal and external prosthetics.  
3. Understand issues of biocompatibility for internal implants and force transference for external prosthetics 
4. Analyse key literature and use this literature to justify their approach. 

Module content

1. Biomechanics 

Force and torque couples, screw theory, homogeneous transforms. Moments of area and inertia. differential equations, stability analysis e.g. Liapanov, Properties of serial and parallel chains. Applications to biological systems 

2. Soft technologies 

Flexible electronics is an active and emerging research area, with extended applications in medicine. We will examine fabrication protocols based on soft elastomers (silicone), conductive polymers (PEDOT:PSS) and hydrogels. Case studies of implantations will be presented and nervous system recordings and stimulation will be examined. 

Soft robotics is currently an active area of researchas soft actuators are relatively inexpensive to manufacture. The field of soft robotics originates from mimicking the biological principles and ‘soft ’ and adaptive nature of living systems. In its application, the compliant structure of soft robots allows novel motion and grasping tasks that are difficult to implement with rigid parts. These robots are considered soft due to their intrinsic property: the materials from which they are made are compliant and resilient. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module comprises lectures, practical sessions, and a major coursework. The lectures introduce the basic concepts, methodologies and tools for biomechanics and soft technologies. During the practical sessions the students will carry out hands-on activities on soft technologies. 

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will be encouraged to submit an outline of their report, and a draft report prior to final report submission. In class exercises will be set. 

For Soft technologies, students will be expected to do a demo of their developments. 

Reassessment

Additional costs