CAREER: The Ultimate Machine, Modeling neuromuscular control and musculoskeletal dynamics to improve human ability

这项职业资助的重点是开发和评估新的计算工具，以预测人体外骨骼运动的变化。最近的技术进步创造了新的外骨骼，即包括矫形器和支架在内的外部设备，可以对人体施加被动或主动扭矩。然而，这些设备在运动方面做出持续改进的能力仍然具有挑战性。当佩戴这些设备时，人体如何反应和适应存在着一个基本的知识鸿沟，阻碍了性能和发育。为了克服这一差距，这项研究将结合肌肉骨骼模拟和实验运动捕捉来创建一个概念性框架，用于建模和预测在佩戴对人体施加辅助、增强或预防性扭矩的设备时神经肌肉控制和肌肉骨骼动力学的变化。将使用两个对脚踝施加外力矩的模型系统来对该框架进行实验测试和评估：用于辅助运动的被动式踝足矫形器和用于增强力量的主动式踝足矫形器。这些系统将在中风或脑瘫患者以及未受损的患者身上进行测试，这些患者通常使用矫形器来改善运动。以前对人体运动的模拟主要集中在肌肉骨骼系统上，但很少有技术可以模拟神经肌肉控制和肌肉招募。动态模拟提供了一个理想的框架来指定和测试不同的神经肌肉控制策略，并扩展了我们设计优化外骨骼的能力。这项研究将开发算法，用动态模拟来模拟神经肌肉控制，预测外骨骼在人体运动中的变化，并对这一新框架进行实验评估。开发的所有算法都将在开源模拟框架OpenSim中共享，供其他研究人员和教育工作者使用。拟议的研究将为改善患有脑瘫和中风等神经系统疾病的个人以及其他受益于可穿戴技术进步的人的运动能力提供基础。算法开发和神经肌肉模拟方面的技术进步将为研究人员和临床医生提供一套新的工具，用于设计、评估和处方增强人体运动的设备。为了帮助培养能够将自己的知识应用于人体复杂性的工程师，华盛顿大学将为工程和医学专业的学生创建一个以人类工程为重点的多学科教育项目。学生将参与期刊俱乐部、课程作业和设计项目，在这些项目中，他们将为残疾人士创建开放源代码的矫形器。我们还将与当地项目合作，开发以人类工程为重点的开源推广模块，鼓励代表不足的群体从事工程事业，包括妇女、少数族裔和残疾人。这些模块将在网上共享，供其他团体使用，并有助于鼓励未来工程师的多样化社区。这项工作将有助于加快神经疾病患者外骨骼的设计和处方，并促进一个热衷于提高终极机器-人体性能的社区。

This CAREER grant focuses on the development and evaluation of novel computational tools to predict changes in human movement with exoskeletons. Recent technological advances have created new exoskeletons, external devices including orthoses and braces, which can apply passive or active torques to the human body. However, the ability of these devices to make consistent improvements in movement remains challenging. A fundamental knowledge gap exists in how the human body responds and adapts when wearing these devices, hindering performance and development. To overcome this gap, this research will use a combination of musculoskeletal simulation and experimental motion capture to create a conceptual framework for modeling and predicting changes in neuromuscular control and musculoskeletal dynamics when wearing devices that apply assistive, augmentive, or preventive torques to the human body. Two model systems that apply external torques to the ankle will be used to experimentally test and evaluate this framework: passive ankle foot orthoses for assisting movement and active ankle orthoses for enhancing power. These systems will be tested with individuals with stroke or cerebral palsy who commonly use orthoses to improve movement, as well as unimpaired individuals. Prior simulations of human movement have largely focused on the musculoskeletal system, but few techniques exist to model neuromuscular control and muscle recruitment. Dynamic simulation provides an ideal framework to specify and test different neuromuscular control strategies and expand our ability to design optimized exoskeletons. This research will develop algorithms to model neuromuscular control with dynamic simulation, predict changes in human movement with exoskeletons, and experimentally evaluate this new framework. All algorithms developed will be shared in an open-source simulation framework, OpenSim, for other researchers and educators to use.The proposed research will provide the foundation to improve movement for individuals with neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy and stroke, and others who can benefit from advances in wearable technology. The technical advances in algorithm development and neuromuscular simulation will provide a new set of tools for researchers and clinicians to use in the design, evaluation, and prescription of devices to enhance human movement. To help train engineers who can apply their knowledge to the complexities of the human body, a multidisciplinary education program focused on human engineering will be created at the University of Washington for students in engineering and medicine. Students will participate in journal clubs, coursework, and design projects where they will create open-source orthoses for individuals with disabilities. We will also develop open-source outreach modules focused on human engineering in partnership with local programs that encourage under-represented groups to pursue careers in engineering, including women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. These modules will be shared on-line for other groups to use and help encourage a diverse community of future engineers. Together this work will help to accelerate the design and prescription of exoskeletons for individuals with neurological disorders and promote a community passionate about enhancing the performance of the ultimate machine - the human body.