Overview: In 2022, the iTAD project team decided to begin a new project; the Exoskeletal Assisted Walking Device (EAWa). The exoskeleton will be a lower extremity, wearable robot to augment power and assist with walking. This year, the goal is to deliver EAWa as a robot and validate the design through preliminary experiments, as well as explore EMG-based control of the system. The iTAD project team consists of 16 engineering undergraduate students in a variety of disciplines at Carleton University. Of this group, the team is further broken down into five categories; Mechanical Design, Controls and Sensing, Software and Electronics, Exoskeleton Biomedical Design, and EMG-based Signal Collection and Processing for Control.
| Team | Objective |
| Mechanical Design | Review existing work and look into design optimization |
| Controls and Sensing | Focus on joint level and high level control as well as trajectory planning and control and sensor data analysis and calibration |
| Software and Electronics | Work on the overall software architectural design and implementation |
| Exoskeleton Biomedical Design | Review documents to determine support system design specifications, gait analysis and requirements, human factors and user interface specifications, and work towards obtaining an ethics clearance |
| EMG-based Signal Collection and Processing | Work with Ph.D. students to create a one-degree-of-freedom elbow exoskeleton that is controlled by EMG signals |
Motivations: Those who are unable to walk independently typically undergo physiotherapy to restore and improve movement as well as strengthen and maintain muscle mass. The EAWa project provides the opportunity for those requiring physical therapy to practice the motions of walking without excessive energy exertion. Alongside being as assistive device for patients, the EAWa product can also be used to help nurses and physiotherapists by reducing the amount of strain they undergo while manually moving patients during rehabilitation exercises. The innovation of such devices provides a solution to those who are becoming over-worked in the field of healthcare.
Impact: Our project provides opportunities for innovation and creativity. Participating students now and in the future get to apply all the knowledge that they have learned throughout their undergraduate degree in a way that will have a lasting impact. The goal is to increase accessibility to those living with walking disabilities and to help healthcare workers support their patients more easily and efficiently.