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XoSoft – Development of a Soft Modular Lower Limb Exoskeleton
Gait & Posture xxx (xxxx) xxx–xxx
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Gait & Posture journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/gaitpost
P51
XoSoft – Development of a Soft Modular Lower Limb Exoskeleton ⁎
Jaap Buurkea, , Corien Nikampa, Chris Batena, Christoph Bauerb, Eveline Gravb, Samuel Schueleinc, Valerie Powerd, Leonard O’Sullivand, Adam de Eytod, Jesús Ortize a
Roessingh Research and Development, Enschede, The Netherlands Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Winterthur, Switzerland Geriatrie-Zentrum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany d University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland e Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy b c
1. Introduction Many elderly and patient groups experience varying degrees of mobility impairment. Assistive devices play a crucial role in their lives and impact on their ability to live independently and perform basic tasks of daily living. In Europe, it is estimated that over 51 million people experience a longstanding difficulty with walking [1].XoSoft is an EU project, funded under the European Union's Horizon 2020 framework programme, that proposes the development of a modular soft lower-limb exoskeleton to assist frail elderly and patients after stroke and incomplete spinal cord injury with mobility impairments. It aims to be user friendly and comfortable to wear, with a significant impact on the person’s mobility and health, on their independence and quality of life. Being a modular system, it comprises of ankle, knee and hip elements, which can be used individually or combined and used unilaterally or bilaterally. 2. Research Question What are the design requirements of the primary users (PU; frail elderly, patients with stroke or incomplete spinal cord injury) and secondary users (SU; healthcare professionals, (in)formal caregivers, family). 3. Methods The XoSoft concept is being developed via an iterative user centered design (UCD) process, with user requirements driving technical innovations [2]. UCD employs design ethnography and participatory stakeholder involvement as key drivers for the technology development to ensure user needs are at the forefront of XoSoft’s development. A semi-structured interview study was undertaken to assess PU and SU expectations and requirements.. 4. Results Fifteen PU and 26 SU were recruited in the Netherlands, Germany,
⁎
Corresponding author.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.06.413
0966-6362/ © 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Switzerland and Ireland. Among others, PU expected the system to facilitate better quality walking during longer distances with less effort, provide adaptable support and offer a hands-free solution. Safety with respect to safe ambulation and usage of the device was also a priority. SU felt that user safety (including fall-prevention) was the most important function of a device to assist mobility. The flexibility and the adaptive nature were perceived as positive, allowing the system to be used by many different patients with varying conditions. Furthermore, the possible use outside the laboratory setting was valued. Based on the user requirements, the first prototype was developed and tested in a laboratory setting. This prototype consists of existing technologies and its main purpose is to use it as a test bed for the technologies and a mechanism to ensure the design process remains user centered. 5. Discussion Based on this information an iterative product design methodology was used which re-evaluates and improves the user appropriateness of the system at each stage. Three consecutive versions of XoSoft are identifiable based on the module and subsystem developed. The final version of the product is expected to be fully autonomous as a person would use it (i.e. run on batteries and have an on-board computer). The three concepts will be tested extensively in the lab, and subject to trials in clinical settings and home environments. Next versions compromise advanced textiles and smart materials to create sensing, variable stiffness joints and flexible tactile sensors. The last version will include the full sensing and actuation system. References [1] Eurostat. European Health and Social Integration Survey [Online]. Available: http:// ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database. [2] E.B.N. Sanders, From user-centered to participatory design approaches, in: Design and the Social Sciences: Making Connections, 2002 1–8.
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Gait & Posture journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/gaitpost
P51
XoSoft – Development of a Soft Modular Lower Limb Exoskeleton ⁎
Jaap Buurkea, , Corien Nikampa, Chris Batena, Christoph Bauerb, Eveline Gravb, Samuel Schueleinc, Valerie Powerd, Leonard O’Sullivand, Adam de Eytod, Jesús Ortize a
Roessingh Research and Development, Enschede, The Netherlands Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Winterthur, Switzerland Geriatrie-Zentrum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany d University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland e Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy b c
1. Introduction Many elderly and patient groups experience varying degrees of mobility impairment. Assistive devices play a crucial role in their lives and impact on their ability to live independently and perform basic tasks of daily living. In Europe, it is estimated that over 51 million people experience a longstanding difficulty with walking [1].XoSoft is an EU project, funded under the European Union's Horizon 2020 framework programme, that proposes the development of a modular soft lower-limb exoskeleton to assist frail elderly and patients after stroke and incomplete spinal cord injury with mobility impairments. It aims to be user friendly and comfortable to wear, with a significant impact on the person’s mobility and health, on their independence and quality of life. Being a modular system, it comprises of ankle, knee and hip elements, which can be used individually or combined and used unilaterally or bilaterally. 2. Research Question What are the design requirements of the primary users (PU; frail elderly, patients with stroke or incomplete spinal cord injury) and secondary users (SU; healthcare professionals, (in)formal caregivers, family). 3. Methods The XoSoft concept is being developed via an iterative user centered design (UCD) process, with user requirements driving technical innovations [2]. UCD employs design ethnography and participatory stakeholder involvement as key drivers for the technology development to ensure user needs are at the forefront of XoSoft’s development. A semi-structured interview study was undertaken to assess PU and SU expectations and requirements.. 4. Results Fifteen PU and 26 SU were recruited in the Netherlands, Germany,
⁎
Corresponding author.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.06.413
0966-6362/ © 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Switzerland and Ireland. Among others, PU expected the system to facilitate better quality walking during longer distances with less effort, provide adaptable support and offer a hands-free solution. Safety with respect to safe ambulation and usage of the device was also a priority. SU felt that user safety (including fall-prevention) was the most important function of a device to assist mobility. The flexibility and the adaptive nature were perceived as positive, allowing the system to be used by many different patients with varying conditions. Furthermore, the possible use outside the laboratory setting was valued. Based on the user requirements, the first prototype was developed and tested in a laboratory setting. This prototype consists of existing technologies and its main purpose is to use it as a test bed for the technologies and a mechanism to ensure the design process remains user centered. 5. Discussion Based on this information an iterative product design methodology was used which re-evaluates and improves the user appropriateness of the system at each stage. Three consecutive versions of XoSoft are identifiable based on the module and subsystem developed. The final version of the product is expected to be fully autonomous as a person would use it (i.e. run on batteries and have an on-board computer). The three concepts will be tested extensively in the lab, and subject to trials in clinical settings and home environments. Next versions compromise advanced textiles and smart materials to create sensing, variable stiffness joints and flexible tactile sensors. The last version will include the full sensing and actuation system. References [1] Eurostat. European Health and Social Integration Survey [Online]. Available: http:// ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database. [2] E.B.N. Sanders, From user-centered to participatory design approaches, in: Design and the Social Sciences: Making Connections, 2002 1–8.