TECHNOLOGIES

This project will deliver a modular exoskeleton for the lower limb made of soft mate­rials as an assistive device for persons with low to moderate mobility restrictions. This novel device will meet key EU Policy targets related to the domain of healthcare and robotics, as set out in the Robotics 2020 Multi-Annual Roadmap for Robotics in Europe and the Strategic Research Agenda for Robotics in Europe 2014 - 2020, which identify a need to develop assistive robotics “where the primary function of the robotic system is to provide assistive help either to carers or directly to patients either in hospital or in a specialist care facility”. XoSoft aims to go even beyond this and to become the first commercially available soft exoskeleton for the mainstream mobility assistance market.

Photo: Thomas Waldek (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Smart Materials and Sensors

In recent years, the research on smart materials pushed a relevant development in soft tactile sensing, mainly due to the exploitation of novel materials (e.g. graphene, metallic nanowires, and organic compounds), and the rapid improvement of micro/nano-fabrication techniques in the field of flexible tactile sensors, different soft materials (e.g. polymers, elastomers) allow novel sensing capabilities not achievable with classical rigid systems. In XoSoft, the challenge is to develop a device that has high usability.

Photo: Thomas Waldek (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Smart Materials and Actuators

The development of exoskeletons using soft materials is an innovative field with many relevant potential applications. Approaches allowing more compact, low weight and comfortable solutions are strongly needed. A small number of important developments in this respect have been made, which will enable the development of soft exoskeletons.

Photo: Herr Olsen (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Biomimetic Control Systems and Integration

One important and specific feature of wearable robotics is the intrinsic interaction between human and robot. This interaction is twofold: first, cognitive, because the human controls the robot while it provides feedback to the human; secondly, a biomechanical interaction leading to the application of controlled forces between both actors. The fact that a human being is an integral part of the design is one of the most exciting aspects in the design of biomimetic and biomechatronics wearable robot.

Photo: Gregory Bodnar (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Monitoring and Connected Health

Accurate monitoring of 3D absolute posture and movement of the subject is important for maintaining balance in XoSoft. In contrast to rigid exoskeletons, soft exoskeletons have similar degrees of freedom to a human not wearing a XoSoft.