Categories Sample tasks

In this task, a subject reaches once for a target and then the trial ends. It is used as a starting point in Kinarm Camp and illustrates some simple concepts like showing a target, reaching for a target, and waiting for an event to occur (whether a successful reach of a time out).

This is an example of a simple reaching task. This is not the same as the standard task used by Dexterit-E.
Compiled for Dexterit-E 3.8, matlab 2013a

This task is designed to show a target for a single frame on the subject display. The algorithm should work properly for any refresh rate on the subject display. The model is extensively commented with the details of the algorithm.

The task is compiled for MATLAB 2015a SP1 and Dexterit-E 3.7.

We get many requests for how to play sound to a subject. There are lots of options for how to do this:

• Analog outputs to the NI cards
• Specialized sound cards that are xPC compatible
• Playing sounds from the GUI computer

The attached example is a very simple version of the final option: playing sounds from the GUI computer.

For an alternatively method that plays sounds in REAL-TIME though the Robot computer, please see the other sample task entitled Play sound file in real-time

You will need to have Java available in order to run this example. You can obtain the most recent Java from: http://www.java.com. This example requires a small program to run on the GUI computer. Once you unzip the example files you will need to:

1. Find the folder you have unzipped the files to using the Windows Explorer.
2. Hold shift and right click on the folder in Windows Explorer
3. Select “Open command window here”
4. At the command prompt type: java -jar toneplayer.jar
5. At this point you should see: “Ready to play tones…”.

When you run the task, if you have speakers plugged into the GUI computer and they are turned on then you will hear 3 tones played, one each trial. As the task runs it will create UDP packets that get passed to the Tone Player program. The Tone Player program interprets the packets and creates an appropriate tone. It must be noted that sound playback in this way is not real-time, but it will be close to real time.

I have provided the Java code that plays the tones, you are free to modify it to your needs. This code could be modified to play *.wav files or possibly even *.mp3. I have not done that. This is purely a proof of concept.

The task was built for Dexterit-E 3.5 and MATLAB 2013a.

This task demonstrates how to move the subject’s arm smoothly while using the Position Controller block. It will move the subject’s arm alternatively between 4 target locations.

Forces/torques will be commanded to the Kinarm as soon as the task starts, and will continue throughout the entire task (i.e. the Position Controller is always on). There is a different sample task “Position controller enable/disable” which demonstrates how to turn the Position Controller on/off smoothly within a trial, for tasks that need to alternate between free movement and positioning the arm.

In the Trajectory subsystem/Create_Trajectory subsystem, a bell-shaped velocity profile is calculated between where the hand was at the start of the trial and the destination target. Using Stateflow, the virtual trajectory is sent point by point to the Position Controller block to create a smooth motion.

This task works on both Endpoint and Exoskeleton Kinarm labs.

Compiled for Dexterit-E 3.7, MATLAB 2013a.

This is a demo on how to access some of the data about the robots (link lengths, angles, positions of hand, elbow, and shoulder) in real time during a task. The task will draw the data on the subject display in real time to show what the link lengths, angles, positions of hand, elbow, and shoulder are. It is a real time visualization of Fig 7-1 Equations of Motion Parameters from the Dexterit-E 3.7 User Guide.

As well, the task demonstrates the use of moving targets, targets with changing labels, and the path target type, new in Dexterit-E 3.7.

The task is compiled in MATLAB 2013a and Dexterit-E 3.7 and will not work on earlier Dexterit-E versions.

This is a task that will demonstrate the use of path targets, new in Dexterit-E 3.7. The task will draw a trail that will follow hand movement.

Compiled in MATLAB 2013a and Dexterit-E 3.7 and will not work on earlier Dexterit-E versions.

This demonstration task is intended to show the use of the repeat target type, new in Dexterit-E 3.7, and is based on the ideas presented in:

Britten, Kenneth H., Michael N. Shadlen, William T. Newsome, and J. Anthony Movshon. “The analysis of visual motion: a comparison of neuronal and psychophysical performance.” Journal of Neuroscience 12, no. 12 (1992): 4745-4765.

Pilly, Praveen K., and Aaron R. Seitz. “What a difference a parameter makes: A psychophysical comparison of random dot motion algorithms.” Vision research 49, no. 13 (2009): 1599-1612.

This task was compiled in MATLAB 2013a and Dexterit-E 3.7 and will not work on earlier Dexterit-E versions.