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Robotic exoskeleton adapts to its wearer through simulated training

A strategy for training a robotic exoskeleton through simulation takes the user out of the equation — saving users of wearable devices time and energy, and smoothing the transition between different types of movement.
By
  1. Alexandra S. Voloshina

    1. Alexandra S. Voloshina is in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA.

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Wearing a robotic exoskeleton can restore mobility for individuals with motor disabilities, or enhance a person’s ability to perform daily activities. The ways that humans move are both complex and varied, yet these devices1 are often designed to assist with only one activity, such as walking or running, and can require extensive tuning for each wearer. Writing in Nature, Luo et al.2 introduce a framework for developing more-versatile and adaptable devices. It relies on simulating human–device interactions without the need for copious data amassed from a human using the device. The authors show that this simulation-based approach leads to effective assistance for a range of tasks and can be adapted to different individuals — paving the way towards the integration of robotic exoskeletons into everyday life.

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Nature 630, 311-312 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01506-6

References

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  2. Luo, S. et al. Nature 630, 353–359 (2024).

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  3. Baud, R., Manzoori, A. R., Ijspeert, A., & Bouri, M. J. NeuroEng. Rehab. 18, 119 (2021).

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Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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