MyoChallenge 2024: Physiological Dexterity and Agility in Bionic Humans

Vittorio Caggiano, Guillaume Durandau, Seungmoon Song, Chun Kwang Tan, Huiyi Wang, Balint Hodossy, Pierre Schumacher, Letizia Gionfrida, Massimo Sartori, Vikash Kumar

Keywords: Reinforcement learning, Embodied intelligence, Neuromechanical simulation, Biomechanics, Motor control, Prosthetics, Wearable robotics

TL;DR: MyoChallenge 2024: Physiological Dexterity and Agility in Bionic Humans

Abstract:

Limb loss represents a traumatic and destabilizing event in human life, significantly impacting an individual's quality of life and independence. Advancements in bionic prosthetic limbs offer a remarkable opportunity to regain mobility and functionality. Bionic limb human users (Bionic Humans) are able to learn to use those prosthetic extensions to compensate for their lost limb, and reclaim aspects of their former motor abilities. The movement generalization and environment adaptability skills displayed by humans using bionic extensions are a testament to motor intelligence, a capability yet unmatched by current artificial intelligence agents.

To this end, we propose to organize MyoChallenge 2024: Physiological Dexterity and Agility in Bionic Humans, where we will provide a highly detailed neuromechanical and robotic simulation environment and invite experts worldwide to develop any type of controller for both the biological (muscle) and mechanical (bionic), including state-of-the-art reinforcement learning to solve a series of dexterous motor tasks involving human-to-bionic-limb interaction.

Building on the success of the MyoChallenge on the NeurIPS 2022 and 2023 editions, this year's challenge will push the boundaries on how symbiotic human-robotic interaction needs to be coordinated to produce agile and dexterous behaviours. This year MyoChallenge will have two tracks: manipulation and locomotion. The manipulation track will require bi-manual coordination of the BionicMyoArms model -- a combination of a virtual biological arm and a Modular Prosthetic Limb (MPL). The goal will be to coordinate the use of those two limbs to manipulate a series of objects. In the locomotion track, we will exploit a new BionicMyoLegs model made from the combination of a virtual bilateral biological leg with a trans-femoral amputation together with an Open Source prosthetic Leg The goal will be to coordinate the musculo-skeleto-bionic model to navigate challenging terrains and obstacles in an oval running loop. This running circuit is inspired by the Paralympic steeplechase and Cybathlon.

Competition Timeline:

Open stage: (July - August)

Release of the models and tasks environment.

Scored stage: (September - October)

Opening of submission on the scoring platform.

Results: (December 10th)

Workshop: (December 14th)

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/myosuite/myochallenge/myochallenge-2024

Primary Contact Email: [e-mail]

Participant Contact Email: [e-mail]

Workshop Format: Hybrid (Vancouver + some online speakers)

Preferred Timezone: Morning

Submission Number: 25