Advanced mobility assistive technology for human locomotion

行动辅助技术（MATs）有助于恢复正常的生物力学，减少影响约7%的加拿大人的行动相关障碍的影响。尽管正在努力开发功能性垫子，但恢复正常的生物力学和活动能力仍然是一个重大挑战。此外，现有的定制垫子依赖于手工和非常耗时的制造过程，使得它们的生产非常昂贵。与使用可穿戴传感器的生物力学评估技术相关的有前途的新研究，以及与数字（增材）制造相结合的计算机辅助建模和设计的进步，正在为开发具有成本效益、坚固耐用和高性能的mat铺平道路。****该计划的目标是通过以下方式推进高性能MAT的发展：1)开发和利用新技术和可穿戴设备，在实验室外环境中精确测量MAT/身体系统的生物力学行为；2)使用经验驱动的计算模型来优化MAT的性能，以实现正常的生物力学行为。3)利用先进的设计和数字制造技术开发新型高性能和具有成本效益的MATs产品。我们项目的重点与NSERC优先领域先进制造（包括机器的利用）保持一致，以提高生产效率，准确性，操作和制造安全性****我们正在开发新型可穿戴仪器，以在实验室外环境中准确测量mat的生物力学功能。我们的实验室已经开展了仪器平台的概念验证工作；推进我们的研究包括开发完全可穿戴/独立的系统来评估MATs的生物力学行为。通过这些新的可穿戴系统获得的生物力学数据将应用于生物力学计算模型。我们正在建立我们最近的工作建模假肢动力学，并将其扩展到模拟复杂的MAT生物力学功能的多种移动状态。这些生物力学模拟将促进MAT性能的优化，并导致创新MAT控制机制的发展，以及促进先进制造技术（如增材制造）的使用。****拟议的研究预计将通过开发新的可穿戴仪器，分析工具和制造技术，以及更强大，可靠，功能和成本效益的mat的翻译和商业化，为自然科学和工程领域做出贡献。该项目将有助于确立加拿大在生物医学和康复工程方面的领导地位，并为下一代学者和工程师提供高级培训

Mobility assistive technologies (MATs) help to restore normal biomechanics and lessen the effects of mobility-related impairments that affect about 7% of Canadians. Despite ongoing efforts to develop functional MATs, restoring normal biomechanics and mobility remains a major challenge. Additionally, existing custom MATs rely on manual and highly time-consuming fabrication processes, making them very expensive to produce. Promising new research relating to biomechanical assessment techniques using wearable sensors, and advancement in computer-aided modeling and design combined with digital (additive) manufacturing, are paving the way for the development of cost-effective, robust, and high-performance MATs.****The goals of this proposed program are to advance development of high-performance MATs by 1) developing and utilizing new techniques and wearable instruments to accurately measure biomechanical behavior of MAT/body system in out-of-lab settings, 2) using empirically-driven computational models to optimize the performance of the MATs to achieve normal biomechanical behavior, and 3) utilizing advanced design and digital manufacturing techniques to develop novel high performance and cost-effective MATs products. The focus of our program is well aligned with NSERC priority area advanced manufacturing' including the utilization of machines' to improve the productivity, accuracy, operation and safety of manufacturing'****We are developing novel wearable instruments to accurately measure biomechanical function of MATs in out-of-lab settings. Our lab has conducted work to demonstrate the proof-of-concept of instrument platforms; advancing our research involves developing fully wearable/standalone systems for assessing biomechanical behavior of MATs. Biomechanical data that will be attainable via these new wearable systems will be applied to biomechanical computational models. We are building on our recent work modeling prosthetic dynamics, and extending it to simulate complex MAT biomechanical function for multiple mobility states. These biomechanical simulations will facilitate the optimization of MAT performance and lead to the development of innovative MAT control mechanisms, as well as facilitate the use of advanced fabrication techniques such as additive manufacturing.****The proposed research is expected to contribute to the field of natural science and engineering via the development of new wearable instruments, analytical tools, and fabrication techniques, as well as the translation and commercialization of more robust, reliable, functional and cost-effective MATs. The program will help to assert Canada's leadership in the biomedical and rehabilitation engineering, and provide advanced training to the next generation of academics and engineers.***