Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Ryerson University
$183,889.00
Design and development of an active lower-limb exoskeleton for rehabilitation applications
FY 2016-17
Summary
The existing lower limb exoskeletons in general, and the Bionik's system in particular, suffer from a number of drawbacks, including: 1) High cost, 2) Excessive weight, 3) High power consumption, 4) Bulky packaging and lack of ergonomics, 5) Limited maneuverability due to high volume of wires, and 6) Lack of user friendly Human-Machine Interfaces for data handling. The proposed system in this grant application has the following main characteristics and novelties. 1) It has reduced weight and cost and enhanced usability through utilization of lightweight materials and ergonomic design. 2) It uses wireless communication for linking the stationary and mobile components, to reduce restrictions to a greater extent. 3) Data is collected real-time through an array of sensors that are placed on the mobile component of the ExoLeg. 4) It has an efficient control system to process the acquired data and to receive commands from the user, through voice, joystick or even a touch pad. 5) The wearable component of the system uses rechargeable batteries that can be charged whenever the user is resting. 6) Customized functions allow communication between the user and robot. Venerable and marginalized group of the population, such as elderly, would benefit from this research. Currently, individuals with paraplegia are mostly confined to manual or electrical wheelchairs. By allowing individuals with paraplegia to stand and walk, ExoLeg would virtually eliminate most of the secondary health issues related to wheelchair use, such as pressure ulcers, respiratory problems, genitourinary problems, spasticity, pain, and autonomic dysreflexia. It reduces the negative psychological consequences of immobility and further improves the quality of life of the user and his/her family. Bionik is a Canadian company and plans to perform the manufacturing, assembly and quality testing of ExoLegs in Canada. This would translate to a large number of highly-skilled, well-paid jobs in both academia and commercial business enterprise. The technology serves as the stepping-stone for the development of an array of robotic assistive devices for a wide range of applications from medical to deep-sea exploration, and military use.
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
488869-2015
Name nom
Raahemifar, Kaamran
Department département
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Organization id
43
Institution établissement
Ryerson University
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2016
Competition year année de concours
2015
Award amount
183889
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
518
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Medical equipment and apparatus
Area of application fr
Appareils et instruments médicaux
Research subject code
1701
Research subject group en
Design and manufacturing
Research subject group fr
Conception et fabrication
Research subject en
Engineering design
Research subject fr
Conception technique
Partie
1
Nb partie
4
Application title
Design and development of an active lower-limb exoskeleton for rehabilitation applications
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The existing lower limb exoskeletons in general, and the Bionik's system in particular, suffer from a number of drawbacks, including: 1) High cost, 2) Excessive weight, 3) High power consumption, 4) Bulky packaging and lack of ergonomics, 5) Limited maneuverability due to high volume of wires, and 6) Lack of user friendly Human-Machine Interfaces for data handling. The proposed system in this grant application has the following main characteristics and novelties. 1) It has reduced weight and cost and enhanced usability through utilization of lightweight materials and ergonomic design. 2) It uses wireless communication for linking the stationary and mobile components, to reduce restrictions to a greater extent. 3) Data is collected real-time through an array of sensors that are placed on the mobile component of the ExoLeg. 4) It has an efficient control system to process the acquired data and to receive commands from the user, through voice, joystick or even a touch pad. 5) The wearable component of the system uses rechargeable batteries that can be charged whenever the user is resting. 6) Customized functions allow communication between the user and robot. Venerable and marginalized group of the population, such as elderly, would benefit from this research. Currently, individuals with paraplegia are mostly confined to manual or electrical wheelchairs. By allowing individuals with paraplegia to stand and walk, ExoLeg would virtually eliminate most of the secondary health issues related to wheelchair use, such as pressure ulcers, respiratory problems, genitourinary problems, spasticity, pain, and autonomic dysreflexia. It reduces the negative psychological consequences of immobility and further improves the quality of life of the user and his/her family. Bionik is a Canadian company and plans to perform the manufacturing, assembly and quality testing of ExoLegs in Canada. This would translate to a large number of highly-skilled, well-paid jobs in both academia and commercial business enterprise. The technology serves as the stepping-stone for the development of an array of robotic assistive devices for a wide range of applications from medical to deep-sea exploration, and military use.
