The device will also help to make rehabilitation periods shorter and more effective. As the device is self-automated, it will also reduce the time patients spend seeing their doctor or physiotherapist for rehabilitation therapy. Other uses for the device include enabling search and rescue personnel to carry heavy loads when other transport methods are not available.<\/p>\n
The leg exoskeleton is the first of its kind to require just one motor to control the hip, knee and ankle joints. Other types of walking-assistant devices use three motors for each of the joints, which affect their coordination. With Dr Cui\u2019s prototype, the singular motor allows for more fluid coordination and creates a more natural walking gait.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will optimise the dimensional and structural parameters of the robot and adopt passive dynamic walking into the exoskeleton, producing an energy-efficient orthosis with a natural human gait,\u201d says Dr Cui.<\/p>\n
Though the exoskeleton looks like something you\u2019d see in Blade Runner<\/em>, it\u2019s actually quite simple to use. A patient slots their leg in against the metal structure, while their foot stays off the ground by placing it on a small plate. Strapping goes around the patient\u2019s leg and waist to hold them against the exoskeleton, and an on-off switch at the top of the exoskeleton, pre programmed by a computer, starts the leg moving and the patient\u2019s leg follows.<\/p>\n The exoskeleton is still in early stages of development, but Dr Cui is enthusiastic to talk about the robot\u2019s continuing advances, such as replacing its aluminium frame with carbon fibre, and using compliant joints at the hip, knee and ankle, which will better simulate the movement of joints in humans.<\/p>\n \u201cThe patient would ideally be able to use two exoskeletons, one for each leg,\u201d says Dr Cui. \u201cCurrently the patient follows the gait of the robot, but in the future we can make the robot follow the human.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Cui is also working with Health Sciences researchers Susan Morris, Kevin Netto and Garry Allison to find out how the exoskeleton may affect a patient\u2019s knee joint when using the device.<\/p>\n \u201cThe exoskeleton applies significant forces in the knee, and we don\u2019t know how these forces will affect the knee joint,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re developing an artificial knee to investigate this further.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Cui hopes the exoskeleton will be ready for patients to trial within one year.<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to see the exoskeletons applied to people in need and improve their lives,\u201d he says. \u201cI think robotics is a fascinating area because I can use all the cutting edge technology and experience different areas of research. If I was just doing traditional research, I wouldn\u2019t be able to learn about other things, but with robotics I get to combine and learn about a lot of different areas.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Cui will be taking his robots to Hale School in July, the Perth Science Festival on 13 to 14 August, and Scitech on 20\u201321 August to promote mechanical engineering to students, and encourage the public to discover the important roles robots increasingly play in our lives.<\/p>\n \u201cSome people are afraid of a robot uprising and some people embrace the changes brought by robotics,\u201d he says. \u201cBut robots are superior to humans in almost every aspect except creativity and adaptability. The future supermen\/superwomen would consist of a human brain and robotic limbs and organs.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/image2.jpg\")