Title Promoter Affiliations Abstract "Translational Research Network in Motor Disorder Rehabilitation: Advancing understanding of variability in motor control and learning, to enhance clinical practice" "Hilde Feys" "Research Group for Neurorehabilitation (eNRGy)" "The theoretical understanding of human motor control and learning has a strong impact on the diagnosis and treatment of motor disorders, and vice versa. Recent progress has been made in the understanding of motor control and learning, particularly with respect to understanding the functional role of neuro-behavioural variability that is inherent to sensorimotor control. However, this progress has not yet been transferred appropriately into clinical therapy approaches. The goal of TReND is thus, to create a translational research network in motor disorder rehabilitation. The network will be highly interdisciplinary with doctoral and senior researchers from fundamental research areas (movement science, neuroscience, computer science), clinical practitioners (physical and occupational therapy, rehabilitation science, etc.) and partners from related industries. The overall aim is, to systematically translate recent theoretical and methodological advances in motor control and learning research into clinical practice to enhance clinical diagnosis and motor rehabilitation. More specific, we will investigate the functional role of variability in the sensorimotor coordination dynamics on behavioural and neurophysiological level in motor and mental disorders such as Stroke, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease. This will be addressed in three research objectives: 1. To investigate how different disorders affect the sensorimotor systems’ capability to exploit functional variability for stable and adaptive motor control; 2. To investigate how novel therapy concepts can enhance the capacity to exploit functional variability and treat motor disorders across different patient populations; and 3. To develop novel approaches to translate the knowledge gain from our fundamental research into clinical practice." "The assessment of selective motor control in children with neurodevelopmental motor disorders" "Lynn Bar-On" "Department of Rehabilitation Sciences" "Gait impairments affect children with brain abnormalities across the severity spectrum, from mild (developmental coordination disorder-DCD) to more severe (cerebral palsy-CP). In CP, decreased selective motor control (SMC) during gait results in simplistic, or more synergistic, movement patterns. Such patterns are also seen in typically developing (TD) toddlers, but where normally the gait pattern matures, in children with CP, the primitive control patterns persist. In CP, decreased SMC during gait is associated with poorer conventional treatment outcome. Hence, level of SMC during gait may predict intervention outcomes in CP. To date, there are no studies analysing SMC in DCD. We hypothesise that in DCD, similar immature synergistic patterns prevent the development of typical movement. However, in DCD, we expect abnormalities in SMC only when children combine walking with another task. By comparing SMC during gait in DCD, CP, and TD children with and without dual tasks, we can gain a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of impaired SMC in different disorders. This will help the development of individualised interventions that target SMC to improve gait in these populations." "A modern neuroscience approach to chronic spinal pain: pain neuroscience education combined with cognition-targeted motor control training." "Lieven Danneels, Jo Nijs" "Ghent University, Ghent University Hospital, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy" "Chronic spinal pain (CSP) is a severely disabling disorder, including non-traumatic chronic low back and neck pain, failed back surgery and chronic whiplash associated disorders. Much of the current therapy is focused on input mechanisms (treating peripheral elements like muscles and joints) and output mechanisms (addressing motor control), while there is less attention to processing (central) mechanisms. In addition to the compelling evidence for impaired motor control of spinal muscles in patients with CSP, there is increasing evidence that central mechanisms, i.e. hyperexcitability of the central nervous system and brain abnormalities play a role in CSP. Hence, treatments for CSP should not only address peripheral dysfunctions, but also the brain. Therefore, a modern neuroscience approach, comprising of therapeutic pain neuroscience education followed by cognition-targeted motor control training, is proposed. This perspective paper explains why and how such an approach to CSP can be applied in physical therapy practice." "Neurological factors challenging bimanual motor control and treatment response in children with unilateral cerebral palsy." "Hilde Feys" "Research Group for Neurorehabilitation (eNRGy), Locomotor and Neurological Disorders, Universiteit Hasselt" "Children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy (uCP) present with many sensorimotor deficits in their impaired arm, compromising effective use in daily life activities. Accurate motor control between both arms is vital in performing bimanual tasks. This proposal is triggered by the need to provide well-targeted treatment plans optimizing bimanual motor control, as such improving the child’s participation in daily life. Yet, bimanual motor control is not well understood and the brain dysfunctions challenging bimanual motor control in children with uCP have been poorly investigated. However, recent advancements in robotics and kinematics allow us to obtain finegrained information of how both arms are used together during complex bimanual tasks. In this project, we aim to improve our current understanding of bimanual motor control and treatment response in children with uCP. We will first acquire an in-depth quantification of bimanual motor control and, secondly, examine the role of neurological factors influencing bimanual motor control in children with uCP, i.e. structural connectivity of the corpus callosum, corticospinal tract wiring pattern and integrity of the sensory systems. Last, we will investigate the efficacy of an integrated somatosensory and bimanual motor therapy program and identify the best responders. Hence, the findings of this project will result in an advanced understanding of bimanual motor control, and contribute to tailor-made intervention programs." "Neurological factors challenging bimanual motor control and treatment response in children with unilateral cerebral palsy" "Rehabilitation Research Center" "Children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy (uCP) present with many sensorimotor deficits in their impaired arm, compromising effective use in daily life activities. Accurate motor control between both arms is vital in performing bimanual tasks. This proposal is triggered by the need to provide well-targeted treatment plans optimizing bimanual motor control, as such improving the child's participation in daily life. Yet, bimanual motor control is not well understood and the brain dysfunctions challenging bimanual motor control in children with uCP have been poorly investigated. However, recent advancements in robotics and kinematics allow us to obtain finegrained information of how both arms are used together during complex bimanual tasks. In this project, we aim to improve our current understanding of bimanual motor control and treatment response in children with uCP. We will first acquire an in-depth quantification of bimanual motor control and, secondly, examine the role of neurological factors influencing bimanual motor control in children with uCP, i.e. structural connectivity of the corpus callosum, corticospinal tract wiring pattern and integrity of the sensory systems. Last, we will investigate the efficacy of an integrated somatosensory and bimanual motor therapy program and identify the best responders. Hence, the findings of this project will result in an advanced understanding of bimanual motor control, and contribute to tailor-made intervention programs." "Optimal Control of Traction Motor Drives under Electrothermal Constraints" "Johan Driesen" "ESAT - ELECTA, Electrical Energy and Computer Architectures" "Permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives combine an interestingset of characteristics including a high efficiency, a high torque-per-ampere ratio and a wide speed operating range. This makes them particularly suitable for application in (hybrid) electric vehicles. Future requirements on electric traction drives are getting increasingly stringent. Areduction of cost, weight and volume is required, while an increase of efficiency, power density and reliability is necessary as well. To achieve these goals, research and development mainly focuses on improved designs and materials. However, performance figures are not only determined by the properties of individual drivetrain components, but also in the way traction motors, power electronic converters and energy storage interact as a system. Because this interaction is (for a large part) determined by the applied control strategy, a large potential for improvement issituated in this area. This thesis investigates how advanced control algorithms can contribute to a better utilization of existing systems without change of the hardware, in order to meet the aforementioned requirements. This comes down to maximizing the drive's performance figures (torque, power and efficiency), while taking into account the electrical andthermal constraints.First, an enhanced current vector control (CVC) strategy for PMSM drives is elaborated. In each operating point, itgenerates optimal dq-current references to maximize the speed-torque envelope given the voltage and current constraints of the motor and/or inverter. The proposed algorithm is able to seamlessly switch between constant torque and flux-weakening control, allowing high-speed operation with a high degree of robustness to parameter variations and a fast transient response. Furthermore, a maximum-efficiency-per-Nm algorithm is included in the CVC-strategy to minimize overall motor and inverter losses.Because most failure mechanisms in motor drives are related to temperature, adequate thermal management is indispensable in meeting the conflicting future requirements on power density and reliability. Conventionally, the motor and inverter are rated assuming worst-case operating conditions, to safeguard switching devices and stator windings from excessive temperature amplitudes and variations. However, a conservative rating benefits lifetime on the one hand, but implies an (often unnecessary)restriction of performance on the other. As a solution, this thesis proposes an active approach to thermal management. Based on real-time estimates of switching devices and motor temperatures, losses are actively regulated by means of a dynamic switching frequency and current limit. In contrast to the conventional approach of applying a fixed (rated) current control limit and switching frequency, the deliverable (peak) torque output directly depends on the actual thermal state of the components. Torque is only curtailed in case the thermal constraints are effectively reached. Hence, active thermal management allows a better utilization of the drivetrain hardware, without jeopardizing reliability.The potential of dynamic DC-link voltage adaptation regarding thermal management of PMSM drives is investigated as well. With an additional converter,the bus voltage level can be adjusted to the required PMSM terminal voltage in each operating point. Doing so, switching losses can be reduced at low speed by lowering the bus voltage. At high speed, the voltage level is boosted and field-weakening operation with the associated additional losses is avoided. Because this implies a reduction of heat build-up in the switching devices, a higher torque and power output is allowed.Within the thesis, the different parts of the control algorithms are elaborated step by step. The emphasis is on the implementation aspects, with extensive experimental validation on a Matlab/Simulink-based rapid-prototyping platform. The experimental setup mimics a series-hybrid drivetrain, consisting of an 11 kW interior PMSM, an inverter and an active front-end converter. The PMSM is coupled to a dynamic load machine totest the algorithms under realistic driving conditions." "White matter matters for the control of human motor behavior." "Jolien Gooijers" "Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group" "In nearly all daily life activities, perfect control and coordination of our movements is required. During such (precise) movements, efficient collaboration (i.e., communication) within and among brain areas is of critical importance. This neural communication is accomplished via white matter pathways. Based on a large body of cross-sectional work, the notion has gained acceptance that individual variability in white matter structure is predictive of motor behavior. Moreover, evidence for white matter plasticity in response to motor skill learning is slowly emerging. However, it remains unclear which subcomponents of white matter particularly drive motor control. In view of the importance of white matter for normal brain functioning, and by extension human behavior, it is evident that injury-induced damage can have devastating consequences. Indeed, the disruption of white matter pathways in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often associated with (persistent) motor dysfunction. However, given the conflicting findings in white matter metrics post-injury, it remains an open question what elements of white matter are particularly affected, and how these contribute to motor (dys)function. Therefore, I aim to significantly contribute to a deeper understanding of the particular importance of the dynamics of white matter microstructure in brain function and behavior." "Understanding heterogeneity of balance control in children with developmental coordination disorder and its impact on motor performance: a synergistic approach using brain imaging, neuromechanics and functional assessments." "Ann Hallemans" "Movement Antwerp (MOVANT)" "Worldwide, developmental coordination disorder (DCD) accounts for 5-6% of the school-aged children showing a motor delay with an onset early in childhood that often persists in adolescence. Poor balance control is the most significant motor problem occurring in 73-87% of the cases of children with DCD. These balance deficits severely affect everyday functioning but underlying control mechanisms are still poorly understood. Therefore, the main aim of this project is understanding the heterogeneity of DCD by studying balance control, its impact on motor performance and its control mechanisms. Based on functional performance and neuroimaging data it is hypothesized that both performance and motor control of children with DCD can be situated on the continuum of balance performance between children with cerebral palsy (CP) and their typically developing (TD) peers. As such a cross-sectional case-control study will be performed comparing balance performance, motor performance, cortical brain activity and muscular activation patterns in children with DCD to children with CP and their TD peers. This synergistic approach of combining functional assessments with brain imaging and neuromechanical analysis will provide a major step forward in unravelling the interplay between the control system (brain and the rest of the nervous system) and the effector system (musculoskeletal system) when specific balance tasks are performed. The expected outcomes of this project are new balance profiles in children with DCD as well as a better understanding of the relation between balance and motor performance. These profiles can add insights in the heterogeneity of DCD and the debate whether DCD represents pathological development or a delayed development, which would be a scientific breakthrough. Furthermore, the novelty of this study lies in the synergistic approach of combining functional assessments with brain imaging and neuromechanical analysis. This approach can provide groundbreaking insights into control mechanisms of balance and, when succesful, might serve as a gold standard for future research. Ultimately, the insights obtained in this project could enhance adequate physiotherapeutic treatment planning, improve motor potential and result in better execution of everyday activities for children with DCD." "White matter matters for the control of human motor behavior." "Jolien Gooijers" "Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group" "In nearly all daily life activities, perfect control and coordination of our movements is required. During such (precise) movements, efficient collaboration (i.e., communication) within and among brain areas is of critical importance. This neural communication is accomplished via white matter pathways. Based on a large body of cross-sectional work, the notion has gained acceptance that individual variability in white matter structure is predictive of motor behavior. Moreover, evidence for white matter plasticity in response to motor skill learning is slowly emerging. However, it remains unclear which subcomponents of white matter particularly drive motor control. In view of the importance of white matter for normal brain functioning, and by extension human behavior, it is evident that injury-induced damage can have devastating consequences. Indeed, the disruption of white matter pathways in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often associated with (persistent) motor dysfunction. However, given the conflicting findings in white matter metrics post-injury, it remains an open question what elements of white matter are particularly affected, and how these contribute to motor (dys)function. Therefore, I aim to significantly contribute to a deeper understanding of the particular importance of the dynamics of white matter microstructure in brain function and behavior." "High-efficiency Sensorless Control of a BLDC Motor using Sinusoidal Currents." "Stijn Derammelaere" "Co-Design of Cyber-Physical Systems (Cosys-Lab), Industrial Vision Lab (InViLab)" "A Brushless DC Machine (BLDC) is the optimal motor to use in applications where a more or less constant, controlled, high rotational speed is required. Typical examples include driving: the compressor of a cooling system including refrigerators and air-conditioning, the propellers of a drone, fans and pumps in general, …. The BLDC is responsible for the lion share energy usage of these applications. Moreover, cooling systems consume a lot of energy worldwide because of their ubiquitous presence. On the other hand, for battery fed systems such as drones there is strong desire for increased autonomy. This means there is a strong desire to reduce the energy usage of BLDC driven systems. BLDC motors are typically driven with a square wave current. On the other hand, using sine wave currents could result in an energy efficiency increase of 10%. However, typical BLDC algorithms lack feedback to drive the machine with sine waves. Using an encoder to obtain this position feedback would increase the cost and complexity of the drive system and can be impossible due to limited mounting space. Therefore, so-called sensorless algorithms which estimate feedback signals based on easily measurable voltage and current signals, are of interest. Consequently, the central research question of this STIMPRO is formulated as: Develop and implement a sensorless algorithm to provide feedback for a BLDC drive algorithm using sinusoidal current waveforms and validate its energy saving potential. As a starting point this STIMPRO will consider an estimation algorithm, developed by the promotor, for stepping motors, to use in BLDC drives. This STIMPRO will be used as a kick-start to initiate electrical motor control research at UAntwerp. This project will serve as leverage to move the activities off the promotor in motor control, who started at ZAP at UAntwerp the 1st of September 2018, previously established at UGent to UAntwerp. To do so, the STIMPRO will be used to hire a researcher who will submit an FWO SB proposal. However, if FWO funding is rejected we will not finish this project empty handed. Given the work plan defined in the STIMPRO, and the experience of the promotor the project will certainly result in publications, a test bench, added experience for the hired researcher and the exploration of possible bilateral collaboration with Flemish companies on the subject. The work done in this STIMPRO will be beneficial for the Op3Mech research group as adding research on electrical motors is a vital in the broader robotics research. Moreover, the education on drivelines at the Faculty of Applied Engineering is currently not supported by academic research. Therefore, the research activities initiated in this STIMPRO are vital to continue education on these topics."