Exoskeletons may seem experimental, but they’ve been deployed in a variety of fields, from construction and manufacturing to defense. A robotics expert from Spain even won a European Inventor Award this year for developing an adaptable robotic exoskeleton for children who use wheelchairs. The design has specifically helped children with cerebral palsy.
Up until now, the biggest efficacy barrier of exoskeletons was individualization. However, a new design from the Stanford Biomechatronics Laboratory is helping users walk — untethered — with less effort, and faster.
“This exoskeleton personalizes assistance as people walk normally through the real world,” explained lab lead Steve Collins, who is also associate professor of mechanical engineering. “And it resulted in exceptional improvements in walking speed and energy economy.”
The boot-like design uses a motor that works with calf muscles. A machine-learning-based model that’s been trained through emulators gives the user an extra push every step. With torque applied to the ankle, some calf muscle function is replaced but the device helps them push off the ground.
The goal of this design? “Helping people move through the world as they like,” explains the press release, with the team expressing their belief that commercialization could be around the corner, primarily targeting older people.
So how was it designed? As mentioned above, individualization was a significant barrier. So the team turned to emulators set up in the lab. Researchers used students and volunteers to collect data on motion and energy expenditure.
According to PhD student Patrick Slade, the device provides twice the energy savings of previous generations of exoskeletons, which is why walking speed is faster. Graduate student Ava Lakmazaheri helped test the device, finding it fairly natural after about 15 minutes: “Walking with the exoskeletons quite literally feels like you have an extra spring in your step. It just really makes that next step so much easier.”
Next step for researchers is to see how it can be adapted for older people, and those with disabilities who are just starting to experience a decline in mobility.
“I believe that over the next decade we’ll see these ideas of personalizing assistance and effective portable exoskeletons help many people overcome mobility challenges or maintain their ability to live active, independent, and meaningful lives,” said Slade.
