THE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF AN ARM CRANK SYSTEM USING FUZZY LOGIC FOR MULTI-HANDICAPPED YOUTHS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION

Abstract

In this paper, we try to cope with National Special School in Taoyuan in order to fit the special requirements for multi-handicapped youths with mental retardation using current high technology, such as microcomputer control, sensing technology, and fuzzy logic control. The prototype device of this paper is focused on designing an arm crank system using a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) to exercise for the upper limb. The rotation velocity of this system was controlled via adjusting the electric current of the brake in order to increase the training motivation. Hence, a FLC was designed into this system in comparison with a manual control by an expert (i.e., physical therapist). Fifteen multi-handicapped youth with mental retardation were treated using the manual control as a control group, and another fifteen youths were treated using FLC as an experimental group. The root mean square deviation (RMSD) of the change of rotation velocity of arm crank was no significant difference (p > 0.05) using Student t test analysis. It means that FLC can be replaced the manual control by the qualified physical therapist. Therefore, it can be seen as a demonstration of feasibility of the applicability of this FLC for monitoring and control the velocity of the arm crank. But, it still needs a longer series of multi-handicapped youths with mental retardation, perhaps to refine the rule-bases, and certainly to see how widely they are applicable.