Experimental study of human hand-arm model response

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a hand-arm model rig to represent the behavior of human postural tremor. The experimental rig is designed as an apparatus to induce vibration along the hand-arm model. In this study an Intra Vernacular (IV) Training arm is used as the hand-arm model. Two DC motors are used each driving an unbalancing mass to produce vibration along the arm model which is very similar to the human postural tremor behaviour. In this experimental work, three different frequencies are used for analysis. Displacement and acceleration dynamic responses of a selected point on the hand model are captured and recorded using a light-weight accelerometer mounted on a glove. The data can be used for further analysis of the human hand-arm tremor especially for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Results from the experiment are considered raw data which can later be used to assist in the design of appropriate instruments or devices that can suppress the hand tremor vibration.