Tec professor presents biomechatronics advances at international forum

At the International Conference on Achievements in Biomedical Engineering (EIAIB), Joel Huegel, a professor at Tec’s Guadalajara campus, talked about projects being carried out at the Biomechatronics Laboratory he runs

By Alitzel García | Guadalajara Campus - 01/25/2021

Joel Huegel, a research professor at Tec Guadalajara, participated in the International Conference on Achievements in Biomedical Engineering (EIAIB) with a presentation on the topic of Manufacturing and Robotics.

In a keynote lecture on Biomechatronics - The Disruption of Prosthetic Technologies, Huegel explained some of the lines of research that he participates in.

The research projects are undertaken at the Biomechatronics Laboratory on the Guadalajara campus, which is run by the professor himself and which contributes to:

Haptics
Extreme bionics and development of next generation prostheses, particularly low-cost ones.

The proposals made by these lines of research and projects are linked to solving real social issues.

Profesor del Tec expone avances de Biomecatrpinica en congreso internacional de la UNAM y Universidad de Yucatán. — During the visit of expert Hugh Herr (second from left to right) to the Biomechatronics Laboratory on the Guadalajara campus.

Biomedical engineering in Mexico and around the world

EIAIB is a conference that brings together Mexican and international specialists to publicize the importance and impact of Biomedical Engineering within health sciences.

It is organized by the Regional Research Center at the Autonomous University of Yucatan and the Applied Mathematics and Systems Research Institute at the UNAM.

At the latest conference, held at the end of 2020, virtual talks were given to share some of the multidisciplinary work carried out both within Mexico and around the world.

Those taking part included experts on Image and Signal Processing, Mathematical Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Neurosciences, and Bioinstrumentation.

The EIAIB asked Huegel to participate as a result of his work and collaboration with other researchers and specialists in the field.

Projects at the Tec’s Mechatronics Laboratory

“Haptics refers to the sense of touch. This involves the entire proprioceptive system that allows us to understand where our body and limbs are.

“It means we can find out how the body and its parts identify their position, and with what force and speed they’re moving through a neural control loop,” said Huegel.

The neural control approach developed by the laboratory works by using computer science and robotic systems that interact with humans.

The lab is working on the development of functional, dynamic, and accessible lower limb prostheses for people that need them.

“In Mexico, 80 people have an amputation every day: this leads to discrimination and health problems, as only 8 of those people have access to a prosthesis and only 2 to a functional model,” he said.

“In Mexico, 80 people have an amputation every day: this leads to discrimination and health problems, as only 8 of those people have access to a prosthesis and only 2 to a functional model.”

In 2018, laboratory staff created the civil association Tecnologías para la Comunidad (Technologies for the Community) to work in conjunction with Proactible, a company created by former Tec students.

As a result of the synergy from these 3 groups, the team has been able to make the use of low-cost and functional lower-limb prostheses accessible to the community.