Page 7 - Handbook of Biomechatronics

Preface

In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s
existence
Sir Isaac Newton

The merging of man and machine has captured our collective imagina-
tions for centuries. Popular entertainment created memorable characters
from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) to the Six Million Dollar Man
(1974) to the android hosts in the modern television series Westworld
(2016). We are entertained by imagining our innate abilities augmented
by technology. Our species has evolved to be bipedal, erect in posture, end-
owed with complex manual dexterity, and able to perform high-level cog-
nitive functions including language and problem solving. But, we are still
subject to innumerable pathologies that limit our abilities and lifespan.
Can we develop technologies that measure, actuate, rehabilitate, augment,
restore, or even replace our native physiological systems? The answer is yes.
The field of biomechatronics is the integration of human physiology with
electromechanical systems. This Handbook of Biomechatronics presents the
foundational principles of this flourishing field and a series of case studies
describing specific applications and technologies.
The Handbook of Biomechatronics will provide a resource for readers with a
wide range of scientific and engineering backgrounds. The handbook will
begin with a broad presentation of biomechatronic design and components
followed by detailed case studies of specific biomechatronic devices span-
ning brain-machine interface to artificial hearts. The case studies span most
physiological systems in the body, including the:
(1) muscular system (Chapters 3, 6–9, 13, 14)
(2) nervous system (Chapters 5, 6, 10)
(3) skeletal system (Chapters 6–9)
(4) digestive system (Chapter 11)
(5) reproductive system (Chapter 12)
(6) circulatory system (Chapters 13, 14)
Equally, the technology within these case studies spans an array of diverse
fields like anatomy, physiology, electrical engineering, mechanical engi-
neering, computer engineering, neuroscience, and more. The inherent
interdisciplinary nature of biomechatronics presents challenges to all
researchers and requires collaborative efforts to produce impactful results.

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