Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #Exoskeletons
Most recents (9)
Exoskeletons in construction:
Nice article posted to the Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin website & co-written by Prof. Zhenhua Zhu from UW-Madison & Mariya Sorenson, a construction manager with M.A. Mortenson.
They highlight 3 potential broad impacts of exos:
Nice article posted to the Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin website & co-written by Prof. Zhenhua Zhu from UW-Madison & Mariya Sorenson, a construction manager with M.A. Mortenson.
They highlight 3 potential broad impacts of exos:
1. Improving worker safety & fostering a better safety culture in the construction industry.
Exoskeletons can reduce fatigue, muscle strain & wear-and-tear injuries, which could lead to substantial cost savings.
Exoskeletons can reduce fatigue, muscle strain & wear-and-tear injuries, which could lead to substantial cost savings.
2. Alleviating the shortage of skilled construction workers.
Exoskeletons could help extend careers & attract candidates who might otherwise be deterred by physically demanding jobs.
Exoskeletons could help extend careers & attract candidates who might otherwise be deterred by physically demanding jobs.
🚀 5 years ago, I stumbled—somewhat unexpectedly—into the world of tech translation, commercialization & startups. It's been a wild & enriching adventure!
👨🏾🔬 As a scientist-turned-entrepreneur, this journey opened my eyes to the business world.
But...
👨🏾🔬 As a scientist-turned-entrepreneur, this journey opened my eyes to the business world.
But...
😡 Amidst all the positive learning & growth, there's one thing that truly gets under my skin: misleading marketing & unsubstantiated claims.
😬 Brace yourself: The wearable & assistive tech industry (think #exoskeletons, #prosthetics, sensors) is still plagued by this problem! Whether it's in clinical, occupational, sport, or recreational applications, we need to address it head-on.
Now...
Now...
I spend a lot of time thinking about & discussing the science of #exoskeletons.
3 years ago, the single most common question I heard was:
❓Do exoskeletons cause muscle atrophy?
Short answer: No.
But I don't hear this as often anymore.
I believe there are 2 reasons why👇🏽
3 years ago, the single most common question I heard was:
❓Do exoskeletons cause muscle atrophy?
Short answer: No.
But I don't hear this as often anymore.
I believe there are 2 reasons why👇🏽
1️⃣ Science Communication
• For a long time, exo engineers/scientists mostly spoke to each other
• But now a broader audience is interested in exo tech
• And more researchers/developers are engaging in public discourse
This is helping reduce exo myths & misconceptions 👏🏽 🎉
• For a long time, exo engineers/scientists mostly spoke to each other
• But now a broader audience is interested in exo tech
• And more researchers/developers are engaging in public discourse
This is helping reduce exo myths & misconceptions 👏🏽 🎉
If you want a quick rundown on:
• what causes atrophy (muscle weakening/wasting)
• why exos are more likely to prevent atrophy than to induce it
Then check out this thread:
• what causes atrophy (muscle weakening/wasting)
• why exos are more likely to prevent atrophy than to induce it
Then check out this thread:
I wish I learned this tip earlier in my career:
👉🏽 If you do R&D on wearable or assistive tech, wear/use prototypes regularly in your daily life. It helps empathize with end users. And improves your ability to design and test for usability & practicality.
Here's why (brief 🧵)
👉🏽 If you do R&D on wearable or assistive tech, wear/use prototypes regularly in your daily life. It helps empathize with end users. And improves your ability to design and test for usability & practicality.
Here's why (brief 🧵)
1. It builds your intuition.
In retrospect, this tip seems obvious. But most researchers & developers don't do it. It took me >10 years of biomedical R&D to realize it.
Once I did, it transformed how I evaluate and develop new #exoskeletons, #prosthetics, #bionics & #wearables
In retrospect, this tip seems obvious. But most researchers & developers don't do it. It took me >10 years of biomedical R&D to realize it.
Once I did, it transformed how I evaluate and develop new #exoskeletons, #prosthetics, #bionics & #wearables
2. It provides clarity.
You'll notice design constraints you never knew existed. You'll think more deeply about user experience. And you'll create better lab and field evaluations more quickly.
It helps preempt fatal flaws before you start any serious design or testing work.
You'll notice design constraints you never knew existed. You'll think more deeply about user experience. And you'll create better lab and field evaluations more quickly.
It helps preempt fatal flaws before you start any serious design or testing work.
Want to improve your scientific presentations?
Every great seminar and conference speaker I've seen in my 15 years as an academic researcher did these 10 things. These can 10x your research visibility and impact. And this will unleash new opportunities. 🔥🚀
Let's dive in:
Every great seminar and conference speaker I've seen in my 15 years as an academic researcher did these 10 things. These can 10x your research visibility and impact. And this will unleash new opportunities. 🔥🚀
Let's dive in:
1. Start with something engaging
• Funny story
• Personal anecdote
• Interesting statistic (that the audience doesn't know)
The first thing you say determines whether the audience will be leaning in to listen or picking up their phone to check email. Act accordingly #SciComm
• Funny story
• Personal anecdote
• Interesting statistic (that the audience doesn't know)
The first thing you say determines whether the audience will be leaning in to listen or picking up their phone to check email. Act accordingly #SciComm
2. Explain the significance
• What's the broader impact on your field?
• What's the future impact on society?
• Why should anyone care?
It doesn't matter if you're presenting to experts in your field or a broad audience. Succinctly and clearly explain why your work matters.
• What's the broader impact on your field?
• What's the future impact on society?
• Why should anyone care?
It doesn't matter if you're presenting to experts in your field or a broad audience. Succinctly and clearly explain why your work matters.
My aha moment today:
Office chairs are rollable devices that support the body to help office workers maintain safe posture, sustain energy & avoid overexertion.
#Exoskeletons & #exosuits are wearable devices that do the same thing -- just for people in physically-demanding jobs
Office chairs are rollable devices that support the body to help office workers maintain safe posture, sustain energy & avoid overexertion.
#Exoskeletons & #exosuits are wearable devices that do the same thing -- just for people in physically-demanding jobs
Exoskeletons & wearable robots are still a foreign concept to most people in society. There are lots of myths & misconceptions & also trepidation about new #wearabletech. I've been thinking about ways to make assistive tech more relatable & approachable. Any other ideas? #SciComm
Also I didn't realize just how much I valued my office chair until we went remote & I lost it. I've consistently seen/heard same thing across exo field. It's not uncommon for users to make audible "ugh" sound during 1st lift/motion after exo assistance is taken away or turned off
Thanks for all the great @BiomechanicsDay posts, videos & memories shared this week! Refreshing, energizing & inspiring! @CREATEatVandy & I posted on a few social media sites. Compiling here into #NBD2020 ode to #biomechanics! What biomech is to us...
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#Biomechanics is about improving lives. Improving mobility & independence for those w/ disabilities. Preventing injury & sustaining health in others.
We aim to advance understanding of how people move, & translate science/engineering out of the lab.
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engineering.vanderbilt.edu/create/
We aim to advance understanding of how people move, & translate science/engineering out of the lab.
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engineering.vanderbilt.edu/create/
#Biomechanics is studying human movement and musculoskeletal loading to inform how we design #wearables, #exoskeletons and #exosuits to support and protect manual material handlers and other workers in physically demanding jobs.
@EmilyMatijevich @lamers_erik @volgy
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@EmilyMatijevich @lamers_erik @volgy
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One of the most common questions I hear is: could occupational #exoskeletons cause muscle atrophy/loss? Interestingly I’ve never heard anyone ask: when workers develop overuse injuries (& miss work for days, end up immobilized for weeks, or leave) does it cause muscle atrophy?
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I’m far more concerned about the latter scenario, which we know occurs regularly. Based on current scientific evidence, given the modest unloading provided by most #exoskeletons & #exosuits, & given the strenuous jobs done by industrial users, atrophy seems unlikely (imho).
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Relevant excerpt from Krogh-Maden et al. in the Journal of Applied Physiology:
“...most literature suggests that reduced muscle loading must be drastic, such as limb immobilization or bed rest, to observe muscle atrophy."
physiology.org/doi/full/10.11…
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“...most literature suggests that reduced muscle loading must be drastic, such as limb immobilization or bed rest, to observe muscle atrophy."
physiology.org/doi/full/10.11…
3/
The latest chapter in our quest to create assistive #exoskeletons #exosuits #mechanizedclothing that can integrate seamlessly into daily life & be concealed under everyday clothing. 1/n #ExoskeletonsForEveryone
@MatthewYandell @Joshuatacca @ExoskeletonRep
ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/86673…
@MatthewYandell @Joshuatacca @ExoskeletonRep
ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/86673…
We were inspired by the assistive ankle exoskeleton made by @gregory_sawicki & @StevenHCollins. We loved that it was lightweight & unpowered. But we really wanted a version that could be inconspicuous, both audibly & visually (fit under pants without protruding elements). 2/n
To accomplish this we invented a new under-the-foot friction clutch mechanism that is low-profile (5 mm tall), quiet & unmotorized. It uses the person's own body weight for the clutching function, enabling it to operate across various gait speeds, for walking & also running. 3/n
