Advanced mobility assistive technology for human locomotion

移动辅助技术(MAT)有助于恢复正常的生物力学，并减轻影响约7%加拿大人的与移动相关的损伤的影响。尽管正在努力开发功能垫，但恢复正常的生物力学和移动性仍然是一个重大挑战。此外，现有的定制垫子依赖于手动且非常耗时的制造工艺，这使得它们的生产成本非常高。与使用可穿戴传感器的生物力学评估技术相关的有前景的新研究，以及计算机辅助建模和设计与数字(添加剂)制造相结合的进展，正在为开发具有成本效益、健壮和高性能的垫铺平道路。该计划的目标是通过以下方式推进高性能垫的开发：1)开发和利用新技术和可穿戴仪器来准确测量垫/身体系统在实验室外的生物力学行为；2)使用经验驱动的计算模型来优化垫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化制造技术，开发高性能、高性价比的新型垫子产品。我们计划的重点与NSERC的优先领域先进制造‘包括机器的利用’非常一致，以提高生产的生产率、准确性、操作和安全性。我们正在开发新型可穿戴仪器，以便在实验室外的环境中准确测量垫子的生物力学功能。我们的实验室已经进行了演示仪器平台概念验证的工作；推进我们的研究涉及开发完全可穿戴/独立的系统，用于评估垫子的生物力学行为。通过这些新的可穿戴系统可以获得的生物力学数据将被应用于生物力学计算模型。我们正在建立我们最近的假肢动力学模型，并将其扩展到模拟多种活动状态下的复杂MAT生物力学功能。这些生物力学模拟将有助于垫子性能的优化和创新垫子控制机制的开发，并促进先进制造技术的使用，如添加剂制造。拟议的研究有望通过开发新的可穿戴仪器、分析工具和制造技术，以及更坚固、可靠、功能和成本效益更高的垫子的翻译和商业化，为自然科学和工程领域做出贡献。该计划将有助于确立加拿大在生物医学和康复工程领域的领导地位，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.