Robert D. Howe

Gordon McKay Professor of Engineering

Robert D. Howe is Gordon McKay Professor of Engineering in the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University. Professor Howe founded the BioRobotics Laboratory in 1990, which investigates the roles of sensing and mechanical design in motor control, both in humans and in robots. His research interests focus on robot and human manipulation and the sense of touch. Biomedical applications of this work include the development of robotic and image-guided approaches to minimally invasive surgical procedures. Dr. Howe earned a bachelors degree in physics from Reed College, then worked as a design engineer in the electronics industry in Silicon Valley. He received a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University in 1990, and then joined the faculty at Harvard.
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Dexterity depends on many factors, including the sense of touch, the structure of the fingers, and the development of motor skills. Professor Howe's group investigates the roles of sensing and mechanical design in motor control, in both humans and robots. One focus is the biomechanics of the human hand. Measurements of the stiffness and damping of the fingers as tasks are performed helps to determine strategies for modulating mechanical impedance; this is particularly important in fast or unpredictable settings like drumming and catching. Other studies measure and model the properties of the soft tissue on the contact surfaces of the fingers, to understand how skin deformation contributes to tactile perception.

Current robot hands emulate the structure of human hands, but cannot approach human dexterity. Professor Howe's group is developing new tactile sensors, and investigating the role of tactile information in the control of manipulation. New sensing devices include high-frequency vibration detectors that signal important events such as the first instant of contact and the onset of slip. These sensors can also assess surface properties such as texture and friction. One application of these sensors in teleoperation, where robots in distant or hazardous environments are remotely controlled by a human operator. The group has developed tactile display devices that can relay tactile information from the remote robot's gripper to the operator's hands. These tactile feedback systems are undergoing tests on underwater manipulators in oceanography and offshore oil settings.

A number of medical instrumentation applications are under development. Tactile sensors originally developed for robot fingers can be used for tactile imaging, a new medical imaging technique that can quantify the results of palpation exams. These systems are particularly promising for breast cancer surveillance. A number of applications in robotics for minimally invasive surgery are also under development. One project aims to use tactile sensors and displays to relay tactile information from within the patient's body without the need for a large incision. Other projects will use preoperative 3-D image data and mechanical models to precisely guide robotic instruments to tissues for targeted treatment. The group is also developing user interfaces that maximize the surgeon's ease of use and minimize cognitive workload.


See Also: Personal Link
See Also: Harvard BioRobotics Lab