Back to the hotel breakfast today, and back to more professional development! Today we toured some more of the labs at the Bilbao School of Engineering, visiting ones working on the same device as Saioa. The first lab we saw included researchers working on integrating electromyography (attaching electrodes to muscles) into detecting the motion of the users of the machine; through figuring out where the user’s center of mass was, they could use the relationship between that and the center of pressure to better diagnose the patients and their needs. When a person is moving, that relationship changes, and they need to collect lots and lots of data of different healthy people to compile their best idea of what they should expect versus what is actually going on with patients. We also saw how they used cameras and artificial intelligence models to see what parts of the users’ bodies were moving as they used the Oreka device. Through the use of different technologies, the researchers could explore the seven (out of nearly 100) different parameters to best gather their data in the clinical trials. We were shown lots of data and graphs from healthy patients, as the researchers need to determine a baseline database for what “normal” balance should look like. Something I found interesting was how, when presented with a feedback graphic of their movement, test subjects’ balancing behavior actually got worse than just using the device normally, without any feedback. The lab was set up with different beds and sample medical equipment to model where the devices CompMech were developing would actually be used; our professor guide for the day, Mikel, explained to us how important the psychological aspects of the devices were, and how engineers could sometimes overlook those issues in favor of functioning technology. The emergence of the “gamification” of different medical devices and other treatment plans demonstrates the users’ needs for psychological comfort and desire to actually follow through with treatment and get better.

Next, we saw the other half of the Oreka-Balance project, the Balance machine, which uses two separate platforms for each foot to help aid the patient in acting out the motions of walking and improving their balance. This device is still in the research phase, as Mikel pointed out that there are still many issues, namely with the appearance, fine-tuned details of the platform’s motion, and more. He explained how they were trying to avoid singularities in the motion, which would lead to the loss of control of the device, and improve the parallel kinematics to have the machine run smoother and without errors. Lots of work is being done on the Balance machine, and despite the years they’ve been working on it, there is still so much more they need to fix. Still, it was interesting to see the two different facets of Saioa and Mikel’s research and how they were working towards helping stroke patients and their doctors figure out the best treatment plan. Our experience with the Oreka-Balance project has shown me just how long the research-to-product process is, and how important it is to design these kinds of devices with the patients in mind.

We then visited a few other labs, one working on more flexible cables in pick-and-place machines and one with different manufacturing devices. In her explanation of the robotic arm device, the researcher in the first lab mentioned MATLAB, and all of us engineers had a visceral reaction (good, bad, I’m not too sure). We spent less time in this lab, but it was still cool to see the difference between the rigid mechanics of the Oreka-Balance project and this more fluid, industry-type device. Our time in the manufacturing room was mostly just a filler visit since we had some time before our scheduled lunch. Mikel did tell us a funny story as to how these giant machines were basically impossible to move into the warehouse-like room, since the engineering building was, ironically, engineered poorly.

We had lunch at the university yet again, and I tried this curry and meat pasta that was really delicious. Afterwards, we headed over to Getxo by metro to see the “Puente Colgante,” or the hanging bridge. It is an impressive feat of engineering that links two towns, Getxo and Portugalete. It was the world’s first transporter bridge that utilized a gondola, built in 1893. The bridge was built the way it is to not disrupt the maritime traffic in the area, as the river it crosses is connected to the Port of Bilbao. The bridge has withstood wars and bombings, and even though the gondola has been replaced three times, it continues to transfer people back and forth between the two towns. It has four towers, with eight long cables on each side of the river. Additionally, it was built with over 400,000 rivets that workers had to individually hammer in over the years of its construction. Overall, the bridge stands tall against the city landscape as a magnificent accomplishment in the engineering field. Taking the elevator up to the top of the bridge and crossing it was a little scary since we were so high up, but it was really the wind we had to worry about. The pictures we took from up above were really cool, but unfortunately, our hair was whipping around us into a messy frizz. We also used the gondola to pass back and forth across the river, just to say we did it. It was cool to see both cars and passengers crossing, and it seemed to be quite a busy travel area. Our guide told us that since the 1980s, more than the entire population of the United States has used the bridge to cross the river; with some more digging, I learned that six million people use it every year. Altogether, the view of the bridge and from above was truly impressive.

Now, back at the hotel to pack for tomorrow, as we’re changing hotels in Guernica due to the Euros final happening right next to the school. I hate packing, but it went mostly okay this time. I am relaxing a bit before another night of pintxos and walking around Casco Viejo (hopefully not for the last time)! Our trip seems to be winding down, but I’m still super excited for the final days we have planned!