Wearable Robotics for Assistance and Rehabilitation
Our research in the area of wearable robotics focuses on the development and evaluation of devices for movement assistance and rehabilitation. Building upon a comprehensive analysis of how humans and robots interact, we develop novel robots for both the upper and lower limbs. By addressing existing limitations, we aim to improve the performance and acceptance of wearable robotic devices and their application in daily life.
Contact Person
Chiara Basla
Subprojects
The Myosuit – textile-powered mobility
The Myosuit (external page MyoSwiss AG) is a soft, flexible, and lightweight wearable robot that supports people with lower limb impairment in regaining their ability to move and walk. The robot consists of functional textiles and lightweight structural components and can be worn on top of on one’s daily clothes. These features not only make it easy to don (2min donning time), but also limit the interference of the robot with the wearer’s movements, allowing it to selectively assist its user only when needed. For these reasons, the Mysouit is useful not only to facilitate rehabilitation training in clinical environments, but also to assist users in performing activities of daily living. The SMS lab extensively collaborates with its spin-off MyoSwiss AG, to both validate the technology on its target population and to use the Myosuit as a platform to answer fundamental scientific questions on human motor control and learning.
Myoshirt – Robotic Assistance for the Upper Extremities
mpairments of the upper limb are caused by various acquired or congenital disorders, but also common ageing. These impairments can limit upper limb function, such that activities of daily living become challenging and quality of life suffers. The Myoshirt - a modular soft wearable exosuit - assists the upper limb in daily life. A tendon anchored to the upper arm is tensioned by a Tendon Driver Unit (TDU) worn on the lower back. In this way the upper arm is partially supported against gravity, and the metabolic cost of arm elevation is reduced, allowing for users with muscular weakness to benefit from an enhanced range of motion and increased endurance when elevating the arm.