Liquid cooled viscoelastic actuation for robust legged robot locomotion

Apptronik Systems in cooperation with the University of Texass Human Centered Robotics Lab (HCRL), Carnegie Mellon Universitys Robotics Institute and Italys National Research Institute (CNR), will collaborate to develop a new type of exoskeleton that is founded upon Apptroniks Visco-Elastic Liquid Cooled Actuator (VLCA). The fundamental goal of this program is the development of a powered exoskeleton that maximizes maneuverability and endurance while ensuring superior transparency. The program will leverage existing developments and build upon the most state-of-the-art innovations as a foundation on which to build the new exoskeleton. The program will start with the development of simple powered single degree of freedom prototypes in order to establish not only mechanical design but also the foundations of the control methodology. The prototypes will increase in complexity and degrees of freedom until the eventual creation of a Beta-Prototype that will be delivered to the government.