In an innovative leap for assistive technology, Northern Arizona University has unveiled an open-source manual for constructing exoskeletons that aid individuals with mobility challenges. This groundbreaking resource is the first of its kind to be offered online at no cost.
The guide encompasses detailed designs for elbow, hip, and ankle exoskeletons, with adaptable instructions that can be applied to any human joint. Zach Lerner, leading the Biomechatronics Lab at NAU, emphasizes the potential societal impact, stating, “I’m hopeful that we’ll see more people adopting wearable robots to improve their lives, and maybe a lowering of a stigma from society around people of differing abilities.”
Developing such exoskeletons typically demands specialized expertise and rigorous testing. Lerner aims to democratize this technology by reducing these barriers, fostering collaboration among scientists through open-source data.
This endeavor has been made possible through private contributions to the NAU Foundation and federal funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
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