Kinarm End-Point Lab

The Kinarm End-Point Lab system includes:

• One or two Kinarm End-Point robots for the upper limbs
• 2D virtual/augmented reality (AR/VR) display (60 or 120 Hz) or vertical display
• Dexterit-E™ experimental control software and hardware
• Optional Adjustable Height Configuration with integrated force plates
• Optional gaze-tracking
• Optional Kinarm Standard Tests

What is Kinarm End-Point?

The Kinarm End-Point robot is a stiff, graspable, high-performance robotic system that allows neuroscientists to create highly complex mechanical environments. The system's high-resolution secondary encoders and force/torque sensors provide high fidelity and optimal performance.

The Kinarm End-Point system has been specifically designed to allow bilateral operation, ensuring simultaneous control of both Kinarm End-Point robots. This bilateral control is essential for the comparison of inter-arm performance in subjects, and the study of bimanual coordination. Kinarm systems also offer the option for users of a unilateral system to upgrade their system into a bilateral version post-purchase, subject to component availability.

Kinarm offers researchers the ability to supplement their system with a 2D virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR) display to allow for a natural, intuitive presentation of visual stimuli aligned with the subject's arm's workspace.

Due to the modular design of the systems, Kinarm End-Point Labs provide researchers with the option to gradually build up a lab over time as needs and funding opportunities naturally expand: researchers can choose to start with a single robot and data acquisition system, for instance, with the possibility of later upgrading this setup into a deluxe lab with two robot systems and the integrated VR/AR displays.

An adjustable height configuration (AHC) is available for postural research, allowing the robotic system to be used while a subject is standing on force plates or in a sitting position-- all systems are compatible with subjects ranging in size from 38" (96.5cm, around 5 years old) to 84" (211cm) tall. The AHC upgrade is available for all Kinarm End-Point Labs.

An optional integrated, head-free gaze-tracker provides researchers with an easy method to help simplify experimental set-up, ensuring that nothing interferes with the subject's head (particularly important for clinical research and applications, for instance), and can be accommodated with the Kinarm Virtual Reality System where space is limited.

Kinarm users benefit from an exponential increase in experimental possibilities, without the headache of having to customize and coordinate multiple hardware solutions.

Any existing Kinarm Lab can be upgraded to include gaze-tracking.

Kinarm Lab’s easy-to-use Operating & Control software, Dexterit-E™, allows users to rapidly implement their research protocol without having to be professional programmers.  Dexterit-E is operated through an easy-to-use interface on a Microsoft Windows® computer, that runs the Kinarm Lab through a real-time computer providing precise, reliable control and measurement of the system under study. There are multiple levels of customization and flexibility.

Kinarm Standard Tests can be used to enable immediate data collection, analysis and reporting, without the need for programmers