Evaluating Shifted Body Representation and Modified Body Schema Using Extra Robotic Thumb

Abstract

The ultimate goal of our study is to elucidate dominant factors and feedback information which facilitate embodiment of an extra robotic limb including a robotic thumb. In this research, our trials are to shift body representation and to evaluate how body schema is modified after use of the robotic thumb. As a result, proprioceptive drifts and task performance improved when subjects controlled the robotic thumb without visual confirmation of its posture. And after performing a grasping task execution with the the robotic thumb the modification of body schema is conformed.