Architectural Design of a Real-Time Augmented Feedback System for Neuromotor Rehabilitation

This work presents the design aspects of TRAVEE, a neuromotor rehabilitation system. The TRAVEE system relies on innovative concepts for improving the rehabilitation process and increasing the patient recovery rate. One such concept is to present the patient an augmented feedback as part of a learning process based on neuroplasticity. Most of the rehabilitation exercises are based on visual feedback aimed at restoring the brain function for upper limbs control. This feedback is provided in a virtual reality setting by presenting the patient with a virtual model of his/her body. The movements executed by the patient are augmented in the virtual reality. Assisting the patient by a virtual therapist when executing the recovery exercises is another original feature of the proposed system. TRAVEE is a complex system, that integrates virtual reality, robotics, electrical stimulation, electromyography and brain-computer interfaces to boost the rehabilitation process. The challenges posed to the architectural design of TRAVEE reside in the complexity of its functioning in a setup that integrates a variety of devices, with real-time operation constraints and requirements of keeping the system at accessible costs, easy to install and use. In this paper, we present the proposed hardware and software architecture for TRAVEE. We analyze and discuss the advantages of our approach and the mechanisms that address the various constraints in TRAVEE.