Sensing and Control of Stand-To-Sit Motions of a Wearable Bionics Suit

Innovative Design Labs (IDL), in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), proposes to create a system for the sensing and control of stand-to-sit motions of a wearable bionics suit. Recent research found that 3.86 million Americans require wheelchairs and the number has been increasing annually by an average annual rate of 5.9% a year. While wheelchairs provide freedom allowing users be independent as well as reducing dependence on others, wheelchair use is not physically or emotionally equivalent to walking and is often thought to limit community participation and thus exacerbate social isolation. Robotic exoskeletons/bionic suits have the potential to enable these individuals to stand up and walk, thus providing a way to more fully reintegrate these individuals into society. Our proposal seeks to address one of the gaps in allowing for independent use of exoskeleton in the home and community, namely, functionality to transition from standing to sitting in a safe manner. The proposed work will significantly change the way current exoskeletons work, facilitating their adoption into the market, and thus directly impacting the lives of individuals with disabilities.