Simon P Levine

US Patent:

55554954, Sep 10, 1996

Filed:

Oct 25, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/142208

Inventors:

David A. Bell - Ann Arbor MI
Lon E. Bell - Pasadena CA
Simon Levine - Ann Arbor MI
Yoram Koren - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

International Classification:

G05B 1302

US Classification:

364148

Abstract:

Adaptive control of a system with a human in the loop is accomplished by sensing human operator reactions to a disturbance in the system and characterizing the operator response to the disturbance. The operator response is characterized in one of several forms by predicting a response based on a model quantifying a response based on statistics or merely measuring a response for accumulation of data to be employed by an artificial intelligent system. The disturbance which provides the human operator reaction, is applied or occurs naturally based on other stimulus and is measured by the system. Quantifying the results of the disturbance and the operator response comparison allows selection of a control mode by identifying one or more categories of reaction response or a graduated modification of the control law employed in the system. Various modes or categories for control of the system incorporate different sensitivities on a macro scale or an entirely different control algorithm. Graduated adaptation alters sensitivity or other perimeters in the system at a micro level incrementally throughout given ranges of control.

US Patent:

47278781, Mar 1, 1988

Filed:

Sep 26, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/780565

Inventors:

Simon P. Levine - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

International Classification:

A61N 132

US Classification:

128419R

Abstract:

Functional electrical stimulation of regions of the skin of disabled individuals is achieved by delivering an energizing electrical signal via an electrode located in the region where the development of pressure sores is desired to be inhibited. Such electrical stimulation produces pressure variations as a result of tissue undulation at the interface where the skin of the human being meets a surface, such as the seat of a wheelchair. Additionally, blood flow is increased, muscles operate as blood pumps, and tissue bulk is increased. Electrical stimulation can be used to improve the conditioning of muscles of individuals who have been disabled for a long period of time, and the muscles have consequently atrophied, so that the beneficial effects of electrical stimulation to prevent or reduce the possibility of pressure sores is achieved.

US Patent:

50069888, Apr 9, 1991

Filed:

Apr 28, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/344638

Inventors:

Johann Borenstein - Ann Arbor MI
Yoram Koren - Ann Arbor MI
Simon P. Levine - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

International Classification:

G06F 1550

US Classification:

36442402

Abstract:

A system for guiding an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle through a field of operation having obstacles thereon to be avoided employs a memory for containing data which defines an array of grid cells which correspond to respective subfields in the field of operation of the vehicle. Each grid cell in the memory contains a value which is indicative of the likelihood, or probability, that an obstacle is present in the respectively associated subfield. The values in the grid cells are incremented individually in response to each scan of the subfields, and precomputation and use of a look-up table avoids complex trigonometric functions. A further array of grid cells is fixed with respect to the vehicle form a conceptual active window which overlies the incremented grid cells. Thus, when the cells in the active window overly grid cell having values which are indicative of the presence of obstacles, the value therein is used as a multiplier of the precomputed vectorial values. The resulting plurality of vectorial values are summed vectorially in one embodiment of the invention to produce a virtual composite repulsive vector which is then summed vectorially with a target-directed vector for producing a resultant vector for guiding the vehicle.