Human adaptive mechatronics

Summary form only given. Mechatronics is known as the discipline integrated by mechanical, electrical and information technology and has been used to produce advanced artifacts used in modern society, which has been developed through the interdisciplinary studies of diverse engineering fields. Our modern life is surrounded and enhanced by gadgets and gimmicks of mechatronics products, and those who use the products can get used to improve their operation skill. It is expected to develop mechatronics systems which are capable of adapting themselves to the level of the skill or dexterity of humans who use the systems. We need to find a new mechatronics discipline considering human in the closed loop. This may be named "human adaptive mechatronics" and is a new discipline of the integration of mechanical, electrical, information technology and human sciences. Its application fields are found in diverse fields from smart human-machine interface for tele-surgery operation to rehabilitation assisting machines. In this presentation, recent activities on human adaptive mechatronics are reviewed, and the future direction is discussed.