Dr. Warren Dixon of University of Florida

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) is prescribed by clinicians to aid in the recovery of strength, size, and function of human skeletal muscles to obtain physiological and functional benefits for impaired individuals. The two primary applications of NMES include: 1) rehabilitation of skeletal muscle size and function via plastic changes in the neuromuscular system, and 2) activation of muscle to elicit movements that result in functional performance (i.e., standing, stepping, reaching, etc.) termed functional electrical stimulation (FES). In both applications, stimulation protocols of appropriate duration and intensity are critical for preferential results. Automated NMES methods hold the potential to maximize the treatment by self-adjusting to the particular individual (facilitating potential in-home use and enabling positive therapeutic outcomes from less experienced clinicians). Yet, the development of automated NMES devices is complicated by the uncertain nonlinear musculoskeletal response to stimulation, including difficult to model disturbances such as fatigue. Unfortunately, NMES dosage (i.e., number of contractions, intensity of contractions) is limited by the onset of fatigue and poor muscle response during fatigue. This talk describes recent advances and experimental outcomes of control methods that seek to compensate for the uncertain nonlinear muscle response to electrical stimulation due to physiological variations, fatigue, and delays.

Biography:

Prof. Warren Dixon received his Ph.D. in 2000 from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from Clemson University. After completing his doctoral studies he was selected as an Eugene P. Wigner Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). In 2004, Dr. Dixon joined the University of Florida in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, where he currently is the Charles Taylor Faculty Fellow and holds a University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship. Dr. Dixon’s main research interest has been the development and application of Lyapunov-based control techniques for uncertain nonlinear systems. He has published 3 books, an edited collection, 9 chapters, and over 250 refereed journal and conference papers. His work has been recognized by the 2011 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Dynamics Systems and Control Division Outstanding Young Investigator Award, 2009 American Automatic Control Council (AACC) O. Hugo Schuck Best Paper Award in the Application category, 2006 IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) Early Academic Career Award, an NSF CAREER Award (2006-2011), 2004 DOE Outstanding Mentor Award, and the 2001 ORNL Early Career Award for Engineering Achievement.

He previously served as a member of the U.S. Air Force Science Advisory Board and as the Director of Operations for the Executive Committee of the IEEE CSS Board of Governors. He is currently or formerly an associate editor for ASME Journal of Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control, Automatica, IEEE Transactions on Systems Man and Cybernetics: Part B Cybernetics, and the International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control.

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Address:Florida, United States