Exoskeleton legs for elderly persons (EXO-LEGS)
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Högskolan i Gävle - Akademin för teknik och miljö |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 5 547 451 |
| Project duration | October 2012 - March 2016 |
| Status | Completed |
Important results from the project
1. An end user group comprising 118 members was created and engaged with via ethical approval to identify key AAL mobility requirements, user design preferences (general and specific), and market potential, as well as final end user testing 2. New harmonised control technology created and patented 3. A prototype exoskeleton realised able to provide 30% assistance to users and be tested by real end users to demonstrate physical help can be provided for key AAL mobility tasks. 4. Commercialisation in 3 sectors (neuro & orthopaedic, rehabilitation and consumer markets) proposed.
Expected long term effects
EXO-LEGS has created critical technical and engineering know how and new IP in designing and developing physical assistant robots covered in ISO 13482 safety standard so that commercialisation for new consumer markets in Europe can be facilitated. UGAVS´s spin out (PhaseX) plans to pursue this and single joint assistive exo-products are planned to be launched in 2017. Other partners (HOAG and CBSL) will expand their existing medical products for neuro and orthopaedic and rehabilitation markets. Hence commercialisation is planned to occur within 2-3 years from the end of the project
Approach and implementation
A new modular design approach and many modules have been developed; the focus has been on integration to implement the key basic motions but advanced functionalities needed in standard and deluxe models have also been developed and tested to allow upgrading of designs via the modular approach. The novel control method allows the wearer to be supported in a symbiotic manner by automatically providing the top-up power needed to perform the desired motions. These two issues of adaptability and usability needs are essential for easy and rapid customization of exo-designs to individuals