Multibody modelling to prototype next generation portable exoskeletons for everyday assistance

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Imagine an engineer geared to design an innovative portable exoskeleton for everyday assistance. While looking at the variety of current solutions, he is confronted to the following questions: Should the exoskeleton be motorized, or equipped with anti-gravity mechanisms? If so, which motors or mechanisms? Should the exoskeleton be as thick as in the "Ironman" movie, or thin as an "exosuit"? Should one consider separately the compensation for muscle weakness vs. the strength increase to carry heavy weights? Several journals including NBC News and Reuters indicated that a peak growth of the exoskeleton market will reach $ 2-3 billion in the next 5-10 years, making sure that thousands of engineers will be confronted to these questions. Modeling and computer simulations could help answer these questions and optimize the design of next-generation portable exoskeletons. Especially, "multibody dynamic modeling" is the modeling of the dynamic behavior of interconnected rigid or flexible bodies, each of which may undergo large translational and rotational displacements, exactly like the "human body + exoskeleton" system. The long-term objective of my research is to develop a disruptive modeling and simulation tool to support the design of articulated medical devices, including exoskeletons, dynamic orthoses and robotic arms destined to assistance or rehabilitation. This objective will include the subsequent development of novel articulated medical devices. The short-term objective within this research program is to develop a novel modeling and simulation tool to design next-generation portable exoskeletons. This objective will include the development of two new real prototypes that will be technological World firsts: 1. a first motorized portable upper limbs exoskeleton, which still does not exist; 2. a first lower limb exoskeleton able to follow the evolution of muscle force degeneration. This research will directly benefit from our exceptional research environment: our system quantifying the joint and muscle efforts in real-time, which are key to control the next-generation exoskeletons; our Technopole in pediatric rehabilitation equipped with high-end 3D printers to prototype exoskeletons, and giving access to trials; our Canadian industrial and clinical partners, and our international collaborators for access to tools such as the symbolic multibody dynamic modeling software. This research program will bring new published knowledge and skills in various engineering areas: multibody dynamic modeling, biomechanics, motion analysis, prototyping and control of exoskeletons. It will support the training of HQPs to become the next generation of innovators in these exciting areas and will contribute to accelerate the exoskeleton market growth.