Humanoids

Released in January 2020, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.xsens.com/xsens-dot" target="_blank">Xsens DOT</a> is a state-of-the-art development platform, providing robust motion sensors for innovative developers and researchers looking to build original applications. Almost a year in and there have already been some remarkable cases of exciting app-based solutions, all built from the ground up with Xsens hardware. One such example is ORYX Go, a game-changing application with an inspiring backstory.&nbsp;<a href="https://oryxmovementsolutions.com/" target="_blank">ORYX Go</a> is an application designed to automate biomechanical analysis for elite athletes, sports trainers, and physiotherapists that may lack the required knowledge or facilities to utilize motion capture research effectively. Once downloaded on a smart device, eight <a href="https://www.xsens.com/xsens-dot" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens DOT sensors</a> can be placed on the body of a person to accurately record running, walking, and jumping movements. The application is designed to present the relevant data in a readable format, saving time and improving its effectiveness.&nbsp;We spoke to Marjolein van Koningsveld, co-founder of <a href="https://oryxmovementsolutions.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ORYX Movement Solutions</a>, about the inspiring backstory of the company and how its new ORYX Go app aims to transform athletic performance and&nbsp;rehabilitation.&nbsp;<img class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 200px;" alt="ORYX-02" sizes="(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1610717227694-1610717227694.png"> Life-changing injuryIn 2014, after many years of riding horses professionally, Marjolein developed a serious recurring back injury. The injury progressed to an excruciating point, hindering her ability to walk and work as normal.“(After the injury) I did find other jobs, but even if it was sedentary and in an office, I couldn’t work for more than 6 hours at a time. Medical experts told me that they couldn’t find a problem and I needed to live with it. I was in pain 24 hours a day” explained Marjolein. “I was 28 years old with my whole life ahead of me, it was devastating.” &nbsp;This life-changing injury had no clear resolution, but Marjolein’s past experience conducting motion analysis on the movement of horses led her to a different conclusion. After Marjolein met ORYX co-founder, Marcel Tiggelman, in the gym, the pair worked together on a solution, conducting motion analysis on Marjolein. This proved to be a huge leap forward, providing the data needed for Marcel and Marjolein’s physiotherapist to design an effective solution and heal the injury for good.&nbsp;The Formation of ORYX Motion ServicesBoth Marjolein and Marcel saw motion analysis as an effective tool for an individualized approach to athletic performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation, leading to the inception of ORYX Motion Services in 2015. It was during the development of the company that the pair became aware of <a href="https://www.xsens.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens’ technology</a>.&nbsp;“We started as a service provider company, measuring the movement and designing rehabilitation programs for people that needed help.” explained Marjolein. “After about two years, we noticed there was a greater need in the market for this sort of technology and that lots of motion capture tools, such as Xsens, were becoming more mainstream in sports analysis. After discovering <a href="https://www.xsens.com/xsens-dot" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens DOT</a>, we knew that we didn’t need to develop our own sensor,” Marjolein continued.&nbsp;The release of Xsens DOT coincided perfectly with Marjolein’s plan to develop an entirely new application. The app was designed to bridge the gap in knowledge and application between physiotherapists, athletes, sports trainers, and biomechanical researchers, and the Xsens DOT sensors can pick up the precise measurements of any professional sport. The team was able to build the app from the ground up seamlessly with the DOT sensors. &nbsp;<img width="816" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="ORYX" sizes="(max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1610717227971-1610717227971.png">Revolutionizing Motion Analysis&nbsp;Despite professional athletes possessing practical knowledge in athleticism and injury rehabilitation, translating motion data into an actionable solution usually requires an individual trained in the technology. Marjolein knew that this needed to change.&nbsp;“We invented a solution that can automatically detect the type of movement, analyze, and determine the quality of it based on the recorded movement data. We knew that we had to keep our clients in mind – they don’t have time to spend five hours analyzing data. It should also be affordable. Right now, we can automatically assess walking, running, and squats,” said Marjolein.Eight Xsens DOT sensors are placed on the body of an athlete. The signals are then picked up by the <a href="https://oryxmovementsolutions.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ORYX GO</a> gateway, a carry-along device. This gateway provides additional steady connectivity for signal transmission from the sensors ensuring no data gets lost during long-distance running or sprinting for real-time data streaming. The athlete can run or walk out of range relative to the operating device without affecting the connection. After the recording is finished, the data is processed into a file which can be uploaded to the online portal on the cloud. The <a href="https://www.xsens.com/xsens-dot" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens DOT sensors</a> work with precision, even during intense professional sports.&nbsp;“Once the data is uploaded to a portal, in a minute or two, the portal will create a report for you. All of the angles and velocities are translated into terminology that the trainer can understand. This is an entirely unique solution,” explained Marjolein.<iframe width="640" height="360" class="fr-draggable" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SJX0ASnG_Eo?&amp;feature=emb_logo&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Individual careThe core tenant found at the center of ORYX Go is individual optimization. The range of physiological differences between athletes means that a one-size-fits-all approach to rehabilitation and athletic optimization can have serious drawbacks. Using <a href="https://www.xsens.com/xsens-dot" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens DOT sensors</a>, ORYX Go tracks and processes data true only to the individual being studied. With clean data presented in an easy-to-understand format, athletes can work with their bodies, not against them.&nbsp;“There are so many professional runners out there with shin splint and runners knees, both entirely avoidable injuries with the right approach to training. Why do people have reoccurring injuries all of the time despite having physiotherapy? Everyone is an individual. It’s worth keeping this in mind when aiding in athletic performance” said Marjolein.Wireless <a href="https://www.xsens.com/xsens-dot" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens DOT sensors</a> work anywhere with magnetic immunity, making them suitable for tracking full-body motion in sport-specific environments. This means precise measurements can be obtained to enhance athlete performance too. Marjolein already sees ORYX-Go as the perfect individualized training solution for elite athletes, providing fast, intricate biomechanical data that can be used to positively improve training and technique. &nbsp;“With ORYX Go, you can have a tailored approach to meet your needs, it’s data-driven. We want to take people from the silver medal in their sports up to gold and motion analysis can provide the in-depth data needed to achieve greater levels of performance. Even at the highest level of a sport, <a href="https://oryxmovementsolutions.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ORYX Go</a> and the Xsens DOT sensors can provide accurate, in-depth data.”&nbsp;Xsens DOT users get access to our supportive, customer-focused team, and we’re working with ORYX to continue developing the capabilities of the sensor further. The full ORYX Go setup can be purchased with a fixed setup fee that includes user training. Find out more about the app&nbsp;<a href="https://oryxmovementsolutions.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 200px;" alt="ORYX 03" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1610717228284-1610717228284.png">Xsens DOT White LabelWith Xsens DOT, the possibilities are endless. We encourage developers to build their own unique applications. Our White Label option allows you to customize a design for the Xsens DOT and have your own logo on the sensors. &nbsp;Visit our developer page to see what Xsens DOT can do for you.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.xsens.com/developer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Visit Xsens DOT developer here</a>&nbsp;

with ORYX Go

Xsens DOT: Transforming Sports Performance And Physiotherapy

Orthopaedic cast immobilisation is one of the most common ways to treat broken and fractured bones. This process involves the use of materials to encase and restrict the movement of broken bones, allowing them to heal.As technology has become more accessible, 3D Printed casts have grown in popularity. They are much lighter, more comfortable and easier to produce than traditional casts. Despite the evolution in cast production qualities, all casts share a fundamental flaw – they are single-use products.Since the job of a cast is to set body parts in a fixed position, they have to be tailor-made to the unique anatomy of the individual patients.3D printed casts are also complex in their structure, these factors eliminate the possibility of reusing casts, even if hygiene issues were non-existent.&nbsp;CREATE Education Ambassador, <a href="https://www.createeducation.com/community-partner/jack-cockle/" target="_blank">Jack Cockle</a> identified an opportunity to explore alternative strategies to make immobilisation casts more sustainable. With an aim to reduce the inevitable waste generated by their complex and tailored form and maintenance of hygiene standards. <img class="fr-fic fr-dib" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA0NDg3NDY4NDE4LUpDUzUuanBnIiwgImVkaXRzIjogeyJyZXNpemUiOiB7IndpZHRoIjogOTUwLCAiZml0IjogImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;"><h1 dir="ltr">The Process</h1>As part of one of Jack’s final year projects whilst studying BA (Hons) Sustainable Product Design, he began by making a normal plaster cast, trialling traditional methods of the cast making to justify future design choices.Then making a basic 3D printed cast, by scanning his hand/arm using a 3D scanner and software. Exporting the scan as an STL file into <a href="https://marketplace.createeducation.com/product/fusion-360-software-training/" target="_blank">Autodesk Fusion 360</a>, which was then converted to a b-rep file, allowing Jack to model a form around the hand/arm.Next, 3D printing the cast in <a href="https://marketplace.createeducation.com/?swoof=1&post_type=product&pa_material=petg&paged=1" target="_blank">rPETG</a> on the <a href="https://marketplace.createeducation.com/product/ultimaker-s5-3d-printer/" target="_blank">Ultimaker S5</a>. This was made easier by the scale of the printer, saving time where Jack would have had to split up the model into more pieces, then glueing them together.&nbsp;To explore the scope of making casts more sustainable, Jack evaluated multiple design ideas through an iterative process. The aim was to investigate the possibility of fabricating 3D printed casts that adapt to the form of the user, rather than existing as a rigid form tailored to individual patients, thus making them more suitable for reuse.This idea came to Jack as his colleagues tried on the 3D printed cast, which almost, but didn’t perfectly fit them due to the varied shapes of individuals' limbs.Owing to Auxetic materials and structures exhibiting certain abnormal mechanical responses, thanks to the possession of negative Poisson’s ratio response. Meaning they get thicker when stretched lengthwise and thinner when compressed. Jack began experimenting with auxetic forms in different materials such as <a href="https://marketplace.createeducation.com/product-category/filament/?swoof=1&paged=1&pa_material=tpu&really_curr_tax=812-product_cat" target="_blank">TPU</a> and Flexible Resin.<img class="fr-fic fr-dib" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA0NDg4NTU1MjYyLTMwMGRwaUR5bmFtaUNhc3QzLmpwZyIsICJlZGl0cyI6IHsicmVzaXplIjogeyJ3aWR0aCI6IDk1MCwgImZpdCI6ICJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;"> In Rhino3D, Jack generated a series of cylindrical auxetic lattice forms, choosing the ones that required no support material (as this would be difficult to remove from such a complex structure). Jack printed them in both TPU and flexible resin to test how well each structure and material compressed under pressure.The concept was a flexible resin auxetic sleeve that fits over the arm of the patient, which is compressed by the rigid PETg shell, immobilising the limb.In theory, the reusable cast would reduce waste, cut lead times (as a stock of casts could be kept) and the longer-term cost of casts per patient (since the costs of one cast could be distributed across several patients).Jack has been developing the mesh further, to become elastic resin bands that are finer, have more layers, and are preinstalled into the cast shell before being applied to the arm. <img class="fr-fic fr-dib" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA0NDg5Mzc1NzUyLTMwMGRwaUR5bmFtaUNhc3QyICgxKS5qcGciLCAiZWRpdHMiOiB7InJlc2l6ZSI6IHsid2lkdGgiOiA5NTAsICJmaXQiOiAiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;"><hr><h2 dir="ltr">Do you want to CREATE the Future of Education?</h2>Industry is adopting additive manufacturing at an exponential rate, it is critical to be equipped with the skills needed in employment.&nbsp;It is imperative that individuals experience these ground-breaking technologies today, to futureproof UK manufacturing in a globally competitive marketplace and address the many global issues we face.CREATE Education are expert providers across the UK and Ireland, specialising in developing 3D technologies in education, to enable learners and empower educators.&nbsp;Get in touch with our education specialists today on 01257 276 116 or email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:enquiries@createeducation.com" target="_blank">enquiries@createeducation.com</a>.

Further harnessing 3D printing technology to promote sustainability within the medical industry

As technology has become more accessible, 3D Printed casts have grown in popularity,  owing to several benefits. However, all casts share a fundamental flaw - they are single-use products

3D Printing Sustainable Casts

Motion capture and the field of motion measurement are widely used in both sports and creative visual media. But in this recent short film, ‘<a href="https://vimeo.com/453613568" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Protesys</a>’ by acclaimed Brazilian director, Afonso Poyart, the worlds of sport science and Hollywood collide, and <a href="https://www.xsens.com/products/mvn-animate" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens MVN Animate</a> is at the center of production.&nbsp;Afonso’s filmmaking career has earned him a highly regarded place in the global film industry, directing films such as Two Rabbits&nbsp;(2012), Solace (2015), and Mais Forte que o Mundo: A História de José Aldo (2016), to name a few. In Protesys, conventional wisdom surrounding sports is challenged head-on, tackling the increasing role technology plays in professional sports. In particular, the film – shot convincingly as a fictional documentary – focuses on the potential for high-powered, bionic prosthetics that take a step beyond assistance for para-athletes, elevating users to superhuman levels of performance. Afonso partnered with VFX studio, <a href="https://www.picmapost.com.br/" target="_blank">Picma Post</a>, to design the short film’s photorealistic visuals, creating a convincing and realistic technology concept, all despite being set in an entirely fictional context.&nbsp;We spoke with Afonso Poyart and Rodrigo Elias, founding partner and production supervisor at Picma Post, about the film’s inception, production, and the studio’s future projects.&nbsp;<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b6vjCVq4UQo?&amp;feature=emb_logo&amp;wmode=opaque" style="width: 784px; height: 503px;"></iframe> Perceiving Protesys&nbsp;Afonso was inspired by the incredible feats achieved by today’s para-athletes on the world stage, taking a keen interest in the role of advancements in prosthetic limbs. As prosthetic technology continues to improve, para-athletes are beginning to edge closer to the level of able-bodied sports stars, which begs the question: could robotic technology turn the tables?&nbsp;“We’ve started to see current-day parathletes, with the help of modern prosthetics, beginning to enter into higher and higher levels of sporting achievement, this inspired the basis of the film idea,” said Afonso.&nbsp;“What would happen if they equalled, and then bettered able-bodied athletes?” continued Afonso.&nbsp;With this concept in mind, Afonso opted to sculpt a world containing a new bionic prosthetic that while beyond today’s capabilities, feels like an entirely possible adaptation. You’d be forgiven for taking the premise of the film as fact, especially as it’s presented in a documentary form that demonstrates the technology as market-ready. It even stars an active, Brazilian para-athlete, Flavio Reitz:&nbsp;“Flavio is a real para-athlete from the Olympics – it’s like real life meets fiction. In the story, this futuristic tech company hires Flavio to test the new equipment,” explained Afonso.The bionic technology developed by the company goes far beyond normal expectations. Rather than just replacing the limb with something inactive, the new bionic prosthetic enhances the user’s physical ability to superhuman levels and is controlled like a regular limb using a computer chip implanted in the brain. Elon Musk’s Neuralink technology played some part in the inspiration for the brain implant idea.&nbsp;“Neuralink definitely provided some inspiration for the chip that connects the motor cortex in the brain with the robotic limbs. However, I didn’t want to fool people too much or give false hope – we wanted to create something that plays with the audience but becomes clearer as the film plays out. It’s too high-tech for today,” said Afonso.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="20191020_153232-1" class="fr-fic fr-dii" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA0NjU5NDc5NTUwLTE2MDQ2NTk0Nzk1NTAucG5nIiwgImVkaXRzIjogeyJyZXNpemUiOiB7IndpZHRoIjogOTUwLCAiZml0IjogImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" width="600">Production ProcessThrough its high production standard, the short film manages to blur the line between fiction and reality, particularly in the CG animated sections that show off the prosthetic technology. To achieve this, the VFX studio utilized motion capture to generate realistic movements of athletes performing a range of sports.&nbsp;“When we first started discussing the idea and concept for the short film, we realized we needed an accurate mocap suit to record athletic movements. Here in Brazil, we don’t have lots of mocap studios or specialists, but our research led us to <a href="https://www.xsens.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens</a> as the best solution. We talked a lot with the Xsens team when setting up to get the highest quality data,” explained Rodrigo.&nbsp;With a short time frame to learn how to use Xsens, the team found the technology’s ease-of-use and adaptability invaluable to the production process.&nbsp;“It was a really straightforward process for us. Picma had never operated a full mocap system and it was a learning process from scratch. Despite this, we were able to pick it up quickly,” said Afonso.&nbsp;“We were able to complete a lot of mocap directly on an athletics track. Nobody has capabilities like Xsens to complete sessions such as this,” continued Afonso.&nbsp;With the ability to record athletes live on the track, the <a href="https://www.picmapost.com.br/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Picma Post</a> team could record the full-body motion of boxers, dancers, and high jumpers with ease, generating the realistic, CG animation seen throughout the film. Picma used several stunt doubles for Flavio's routines, harmoniously merging the shots together.&nbsp;“Flavio is unable to use a real prosthetic leg and can’t walk. So every shot where he is walking is a double. We also hired a High Jumper for some of the shots too,” said Afonso.&nbsp;“We actually had three stuntmen for Flavio, one for jumping, running, and the body! added Rodrigo. “But of course, we only recorded the initial steps of Flavio’s jump with <a href="https://www.xsens.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Xsens</a>. We also had some wired cables that raised him during the recording session. As soon as he took off and went upwards, we’d cut, so the rest of the jump was all CG.”&nbsp;<img alt="IMG_0906.CR2" class="fr-fic fr-dii" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiAid2V2b2x2ZXItcHJvamVjdC1pbWFnZXMiLCAia2V5IjogImZyb2FsYS8xNjA0NjU5NDc5MTE2LTE2MDQ2NTk0NzkxMTYucG5nIiwgImVkaXRzIjogeyJyZXNpemUiOiB7IndpZHRoIjogOTUwLCAiZml0IjogImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" width="1200">“For the CG parts, we used a combination of Maya and Arnold. And every compositing shot is completed in Nuke. For now, we’re using HumanIK inside Maya to apply the mocap data and a custom rig using HumanIK as our base for the robot. We’re looking to develop custom rigs in the future,” said Rodrigo. Even high-impact movements resulted in no loss of data for the team, with the durability of the Xsens sensors proving very reliable. “We recorded a high jumper with Xsens to jump at a lower height to acquire all of the movement data as an athlete crosses over the bar. The data came out very clean, all despite the athletes hitting the mattresses with maximum force – the sensors worked fine,” explained Afonso.<iframe allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://play.vidyard.com/7RvtWS9otmd6jKYHf2Gx81?disable_popouts=1&amp;type=inline&amp;hidden_controls=0&amp;muted=0&amp;loop=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;new_player_ui=1&amp;gdpr_enabled=1&amp;play_button_color=2A2A2A&amp;playlist_color=FFFFFF&amp;color=FFFFFF&amp;hide_playlist=1&amp;embed_button=0&amp;viral_sharing=0&amp;v=4.2.23&amp;vydata%5Butk%5D=e1b95d4c524d7134054b8a9c5fc2f599&amp;vydata%5Bportal_id%5D=3446270&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_type%5D=blog-post&amp;vydata%5Bcanonical_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xsens.com%2Fcases%2Fdesigning-a-bionic-future-for-prosthetics-with-xsens&amp;vydata%5Bpage_id%5D=35219307837&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_page_id%5D=35219307837&amp;vydata%5Blegacy_page_id%5D=35219307837&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_folder_id%5D=null&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_group_id%5D=9880291723&amp;vydata%5Bab_test_id%5D=null&amp;vydata%5Blanguage_code%5D=null" title="Video" width="100%"></iframe>Feature FilmThe short is a stand-alone film in its own right, but it actually exists within a much larger universe designed by Afonso to encompass a feature-length, parallel story.&nbsp;“The short film is a case study for a feature film in production. We have a script and are just entering the production stages – the short film takes place in the same universe as the feature and acts as a precursor,” said Afonso.&nbsp;“The movie portrays a world where prosthetics are incredibly advanced. We’ve focused on different athletic sports where para-athletes use bionic limbs to become super athletes. The sporting audience and sponsors flip their interest into the bionic sports, able-bodied athletes become less significant as they’re unable to compete with para-athletes,” continued Afonso.&nbsp;“There will be two sisters, both athletes, one disabled and one able-bodied. When this technological revolution happens, the sister with the disability becomes the star, replacing the prospects of the able-bodied sister. It’s really about rivalry and what people are prepared to do to achieve success.”The feature film will take a more conventional cinematic approach, rather than the fictional documentary style of the short. But the questions touched upon in <a href="https://vimeo.com/453613568" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Protesys</a> will be expanded into realistic scenarios that are bound to cause contention. As Afonso states:&nbsp;“We always associate sports with physicality, but it seems to me that it’s much more about mental and emotional dexterity. If the robotics extends our physical ability to a higher level and really lowers difficulty constraints, what will differentiate the best athletes? Everyone might want a bionic limb, whether they need one or not.” You can check out the full short film <a href="https://www.solidlimbs.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, and keep your eyes peeled for further developments of the full feature film.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Xsens MVN Animate</h3>Are you actively looking for a motion capture system? Feel free to visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.xsens.com/products/mvn-animate" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">product page</a>.<a href="https://www.xsens.com/cs/c/?cta_guid=62b0c95c-a32e-49a7-b027-2d1850d6c247&amp;signature=AAH58kHW8MGtxYkdRDy65TvwW8WxSoQlgA&amp;pageId=35219307837&amp;placement_guid=4d5a34f5-b6e3-4815-bb7c-67fec396482b&amp;click=d23fe1e1-9172-412a-af80-683795572401&amp;hsutk=e1b95d4c524d7134054b8a9c5fc2f599&amp;canon=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xsens.com%2Fcases%2Fdesigning-a-bionic-future-for-prosthetics-with-xsens&amp;utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xsens.com%2Fexplore%3Ffilter%3Dcases&amp;portal_id=3446270&amp;redirect_url=APefjpGczQu9wTNyNGmpb35KO0ZULXNHCqF9PkcH0Ho_6IWdyVwW2gu7s3VrxVumJdj3ZRgAd-220-M-7t0z5K_7GUyeMXeatlgMTlmpeIGz2ZoeriA-BJaRg2VrfHuyZEc8af2uCoVe4z_uyouYcGJWjoCuaaJ09pUhGzenbaRrw0IdC_wGbSbd4yyuUJ3xAopxB3HeKGgBp1JutLsNSkMy98evDLdzARZUnyn6TyX5GjiVzaODc8xdJtRc3xVBgNdq7JJUUPhXoG5xPx_AvClAVrZAzelHPw&amp;__hstc=81749512.e1b95d4c524d7134054b8a9c5fc2f599.1598950583555.1604655289703.1604659070195.177&amp;__hssc=81749512.5.1604659070195&amp;__hsfp=141168424&amp;contentType=blog-post" target="_blank" title="Download MVN Data Files"></a>

With Xsens

Designing A Bionic Future For Prosthetics

Humanoid robots have been a topic of deep interest amongst engineers due to their ability to perform in environments primarily designed for humans. The field of robotics in general is quite unique as it is made of a fusion of many disciplines from mechanical design to biology. However, the humanoid is particularly fascinating to humankind as it mimics the human form. &nbsp;Generally speaking, a robot can perform a variety of tasks autonomously. Robots can fall into different categories such as industrial, service, social, humanoid, etc..&nbsp;Industrial robots, for instance, as the name suggests are designed with the intention of performing a specific task within an industrial context i.e. welding (commonly deployed in automotive plants), commercial vacuum cleaning, and so on. Humanoid robots on the other hand can be merely the design of a particular body part or a complete imitation of the human biomechanics. Through developing humanoids not only we can build machines that are able to operate in human environments but also gain a better understanding of the movements of the human body. This also enables us to design and create more optimal protheses for injured people.&nbsp;<h1 dir="ltr">Overall Design Considerations&nbsp;</h1>The key consideration associated with the outer appearance of the humanoid robot is how much it will emulate human features. The cornerstone of developing humanoid robots is that they can interact seamlessly with humans. So, understanding how much verbal understanding or response it should be able to perform is paramount. This also determines to what extent these robots can navigate environments natural to humans and operate as such.&nbsp;Suffice it to say, when designing a robot, important factors include size, strength and weight. In addition, application plays a crucial role in the development and design process. For example, the infamous <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/wevolver.staff/atlas.robot/" target="_blank">ATLAS robot</a> from Boston Dynamics is designed for physical performances whilst doing motion generation. To perform tasks at a fast pace, humanoid robots should account for stiffness and power output, light weight and more vigilant real-time information processing capabilities. All in all, The design principles can be divided into four following categories:<ul><li dir="ltr">Proportions of the body:&nbsp;In order to achieve human-like kinematics and dynamics, similar mass distributions and link lengths are required. Furthermore, humanoids are able to fit better within human environments when accounting for strong body proportion similarities.</li><li dir="ltr">Skeletal structure:&nbsp;One important consideration for mimicking the human body is a high degree of fidelity in skeletal structure. Human joints are made up of both single-axis rotation and rolling-sliding joints. This combination allows for sliding and rotation movements between the bones. To emulate flexible upper body movement, spine joints with multiple vertebrae are helpful.</li><li dir="ltr">Joint performance:&nbsp;Joint performance determines how the humanoid performs when it comes to the whole-body motion. Two factors impacting joint performance are joint range of motion and power output.</li><li dir="ltr">Arrangement of muscles: Muscle arrangement is essential for identifying the muscle-joint-operational mappins, which provide muscle contribution in adequate tendency during whole-body movements. To design a humanoid with human-like muscle arrangement, the humanoid should possess as many muscle actuators as the design space allows for</li></ul><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_sBBaNYex3E?&amp;wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 753px; height: 411px;"></iframe> <h2 dir="ltr">Mechanical Structure of Humanoid Robots &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</h2>Human structure has always been the source of inspiration for the humanoid robot's kinematic structure. Thus, most humanoids resemble human features such as head, legs, hands, feet, etc. Moreover, these robots typically include similar Degrees of Freedom (DOFs) to a human being. Evidently, such robots are designed to be human-like. Thus, the center of motion of the robot should be located in the vicinity of its ‘belly button’. The human musculoskeletal system is essentially made up of bones, cartilage, muscles, tendons and skin. It consists of more than 206 bones and 600 muscles.&nbsp;Through biomechanics, the musculoskeletal system can be regarded as a mechanical system: the bones can be the rigid links, and the cartilage connects these links. The lower body is generally composed of a waist, upper legs, lower legs and feet in a redundant and human-like kinematic configuration, similar Range of Motion (ROM) and similar joint velocities and accelerations. The ‘legs’ consist of 3 rotation joints with one joint allowing for knee flexion-extension and two other for the flexion-extension and prono-supination of ankles. The type of application determines the grippers used in humanoid robots.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1603454172956-robots_0+%281%29.jpg">Image: Boston DynamicsFeet are perhaps the most important aspect and they must handle impacts of landing and prevent slippage. Humanoid robots should possess soles with materials and shapes that provide enough friction. For instance, the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/wevolver.staff/lola/" target="_blank">LOLA robot</a> (a project built with the goal of creating a machine that is capable of stable and fast walking) deploys Sylomer (a special elastomer material) with an elastic modulus that is higher at the heel.&nbsp;There’s a wide variety of tasks a humanoid robot can overtake, from extreme or dangerous environments to healthcare. The technology pioneering the progress of these robots continues to grow by leaps and bounds and so does with it their application.<h1 dir="ltr">Sources &amp; Further Reading&nbsp;</h1><a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(19)30534-1/fulltext" target="_blank">Human–robotic interfaces to shape the future of prosthetics</a><a href="http://ai.stanford.edu/~rxzhang/Mechanical_Design_And_Control_System.pdf" target="_blank">Mechanical Design And Control System Configuration of a Humanoid Robot</a><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928425709000400" target="_blank">Humanoid robot Lola: Design and walking control</a>

Chair of Applied Mechanics, Technical University of Munich (TUM)

Humanoid robots require deeper consideration than just mimicking humans.

Design Considerations for Humanoid Robots

I know what you are thinking: cellular materials and lightweighting? Who made this guy a Professor? I hear you. While my students and I have spent a lot of time the past four years studying cellular materials, it has been in the context of energy absorption, honeycomb panel design, capillary action, and thermal management, and not with the intent to lightweight (is it now ok to use it as a verb?) a structure. However, when nTopology approached me with a request to contribute to a series of talks on lightweighting, I wondered if this was a good time to enter the dark dungeon and chat with the trolls. The result of my explorations is this blog post, and the accompanying webinar, that I hope will spark some ideas, if not justify my hiring.Traditional approaches to lightweighting involve material selection, consolidation, and topology optimization (Figure 1). Design solutions are of particular importance when working with higher density metals where composition is selected for reasons such as high temperature performance or corrosion resistance, and the door to lower-density materials is closed. Cellular materials such as lattices and foams are typically not thought of as leading design candidates for lightweighting, and skepticism in this area is well founded. There are several reasons for this, most fundamentally perhaps being the point that the very requirement of structure to have cellularity is in itself a limiting constraint from a design optimization standpoint. Nonetheless, I would like to stick my neck out and examine if this always must be the case.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjAxMjI1MDc0NjI1LWZpZ3VyZS0xLWRiLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=">Figure 1: Traditional approaches to lightweighting include (a) material selection, (b) consolidation, and (c) topology optimization [Photo credits – (a): CES EduPack 2018, Granta Design Ltd., (b) and (c): nTopology]&nbsp;The first argument for why we need to consider cellular materials in the context of lightweighting, and one I will focus in this blog post, is the argument from nature. We do find cellular structures in biological structure (Figure 2), such as insect nests, turtle shells, bone, and sea urchin spines, where mass minimization is always an inherent requirement. In some cases, such as the beaks and bones of birds, lightweighting is critical. As the songwriter J.J. Cale put it, “Travelin’ light is the only way to fly.” Fortunately he gives us no details about how this is to be accomplished, which is why engineers like you and me still have jobs in this world, and care enough to write and read (?) blog posts.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjAxMjI1MDk3NjI4LWZpZ3VyZS0yLWRiLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=">Figure 2: Natural structures where minimizing weight is of importance, and also exhibit cellular material design: (a) Venation of a water lily leaf, (b) wasp nest, (c) trabecular bone [Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons (a) Laitr Keiows; (c) Neon]&nbsp;This apparent paradox can be resolved by making the argument that there are (at least) three performance objectives, which when sought, strengthen the candidacy of cellular materials for lightweighting: surface and volume infilling, multi-functionality, and damage tolerance. We find these demonstrated in natural structure, but also in engineering applications that embody cellular materials for these reasons, including honeycomb core commonly used in panels. These insights can be leveraged to inform engineering design of lightweight structures, and implemented by leveraging a framework for cellular material design that consists of four concepts: discretization, periodicity, gradients, and hierarchy. These concepts lend themselves very well to study in the context of nTopology’s equation-based implicit modeling platform (small p intended). One example of this is work done by one of my students using nTopology to create different geometries to study the effect of aperiodicity (Figure 3).&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjAxMjI1MTIyMDAyLWZpZ3VyZS0zLWRiLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=">Figure 3: Use of nTopology to develop cellular material designs with varying degrees of aperiodicity [Photo Credits: Daniel Anderson, 3DX Research, ASU]&nbsp;Lest I be accused of “having a hammer and looking for a nail”, which while fair, is not the entire story, I would like to end by clarifying that cellular materials merely represent an alternative for lightweighting when the performance objectives mentioned previously are also being sought. However, I will go a step further and speculate that cellular material design is a critical element at the frontier of lightweighting since it helps us enable true multi-functional, material-and-structure co-optimization at a range of scales. Of course at this point, cellular design and other techniques blend into each other, and the boundaries between formal approaches to lightweighting start to break down. This is my second argument for why we need to consider cellular materials for lightweighting: they tie everything together. How am I so sure? Because life, uh, has found a way.&nbsp;<hr><h3>References</h3><ol><li>Harris, “Five Techniques for Lightweighting: Doing More With Less,” January 2020, <a href="https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/pub/features/articles/35824" target="_blank">https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/pub/features/articles/35824</a></li><li>du Plessis, C. Broeckhoven, I. Yadroitsava, I. Yadriotsev, C. Hands, R. Kunju, D. Bhate, “Beautiful and Functional: A Review of Biomimetic Design in Additive Manufacturing,” Additive Manufacturing, Volume 27, pages 408-427, May 2019</li><li>Bhate, C. Penick, L. Ferry, C. Lee, “Classification and Selection of Cellular Materials in Mechanical Design: Engineering and Biomimetic Approaches,” Invited paper, Special Issue on Advances in Biologically Inspired Design, MDPI Designs, 3(1), 19, 2019</li><li>J. Cale, “Travelin’ Light”, Troubadour, Shelter Records, 1976</li><li>Malcolm, “Jurassic Park,” Universal Studios, 1993</li></ol><hr>This article was first published on the <a href="https://ntopology.com/blog/2020/08/21/lightweighting-with-cellular-materials-insights-from-nature/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nTopology blog.</a>

Can cellular materials serve as a design solution for achieving lightweighting of engineering structures? Let’s listen to what nature has to say.

Lightweighting with Cellular Materials: Insights from Nature

Sensory motion tracking enabled by smart MEMS-based inertial sensors is at the forefront of our fourth industrial age, pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence and machine learning further than we could have imagined. Already widely used in animation productions, elite athletes now use motion sensors to enhance their performance and sports enthusiasts to improve their tennis serve or golf swing. In healthcare, motion tracking is helping people to monitor their heart rates, sleep patterns and fitness levels.MEMS-based inertial sensors provide affordable information and using this information further for human-tracking applications is quite intricate and complex. Calibrated proprioceptive sensor measurements have to be processed using sophisticated sensor fusion algorithms that should be mathematically correct and supported by robust modelling relevant to a specific application.Less than five decades ago sensory motion tracking involved huge and prohibitively expensive inertial-based systems mostly used for navigation. The industry needs influenced the MEMS-based technology which, in its turn, has driven the evolution of the sensory motion tracking technology. Now MEMS-based inertial systems dominate the motion capture market and drive innovations in different industries.Just half a year ago the sensory motion tracking technology aiding tele-medicine was a nice-to-have, now, with the “new normal”, it has become a necessity. Our physical, biological and technological worlds are merging like never before, and the potential of sensory motion capture is only restricted by the extent of our imagination. This ground-breaking technology is opening the possibilities for entrepreneurs and innovators to transform their own industries.<a href="https://www.xsens.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Xsens</a>, the global leader in 3D motion tracking technology and pioneer of the <a href="https://www.xsens.com/xsens-dot" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Xsens DOT</a> development platform, is holding a webinar to discuss the latest trends in Wearable Tech on July, 14 and July, 15. &nbsp;If you are a developer, entrepreneur, innovator or business decision maker and would like to know more about how you can use this ground-breaking technology within your field of work, please register <a href="https://www.xsens.com/webinar-dot" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

The future of human digital interaction

Sensory motion tracking

<a href="https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/sport/olympic/sport-climbing/" target="_blank">Sport Climbing</a>&nbsp;would be debuting as an official Olympic sport in <a href="https://tokyo2020.org/en/" target="_blank">Tokyo 2020</a>, professional athletes are vying to reach the top by achieving a technical edge over their competition. That edge comes in the form of inertial motion capture. Sponsored by <a href="https://www.jll.co.uk/" target="_blank">JLL</a>, a real estate firm, six climbers were examined using <a href="https://www.xsens.com/products/mvn-analyze" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Xsens MVN Analyze</a> to assess their climbing technique. JLL teamed up with <a href="https://www.isobar.com/sg/en/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Isobar Singapore</a> and <a href="https://mktg.com/offices/singapore/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">MKTG Singapore</a> to work on this innovative project.The road to TokyoThe introduction of climbing into the Olympics sees the sport divided into three main categories:● Speed – Two climbers secure safety ropes to themselves and attempt to scale a 15m-high, 95 degrees wall faster than their opponent on identical routes● Bouldering – Athletes climb as many fixed routes on a 4m-high wall as they can within four minutes.● Lead – Athletes attempt to climb as high as they can on a wall measuring more than 15m in height, all within six minutes.With each section requiring different skillsets, athletes need to learn to adapt their climbing technique.Enter, Xsens<img alt="Climber" class="fr-fic fr-dii" data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://www.xsens.com/hubfs/Climber.png">&nbsp;There are physical limitations for coaches assessing their athletes through observation alone—even video often misses the trick. Details, such as the distance between the climber and the wall, cannot be accurately measured without tools working directly on the climber. With the Xsens sensors, suits can be worn during real climbs and the athletes gained never before seen insights.“The technology helps direct the distance between my body and the wall. The coach and I analyzed the movements and he concluded that my body was too far away. With this observation, I know how to improve my climbing,” explained Yau Ka-Chun, one of the six climbers.Climbing coaches need as much information as possible when assessing athletes in order to finesse the smaller details in technique, as Tatsumi Yui, Coach and Gym owner found:“The skill of the coach plays a big part in finding a climber’s weak point, so by using this technology, it is possible to find the weak point more easily.”&nbsp;<iframe allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://play.vidyard.com/vGtVJAAZiNC4q3J5HPMimm?disable_popouts=1&amp;v=4.2.20&amp;viral_sharing=0&amp;embed_button=0&amp;hide_playlist=1&amp;color=FFFFFF&amp;playlist_color=FFFFFF&amp;play_button_color=2A2A2A&amp;gdpr_enabled=1&amp;type=inline&amp;new_player_ui=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;loop=0&amp;muted=0&amp;hidden_controls=0&amp;vydata%5Butk%5D=465d693af42ae05f614571b3e65e8679&amp;vydata%5Bportal_id%5D=3446270&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_type%5D=blog-post&amp;vydata%5Bcanonical_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.xsens.com%2Fcases%2Fclimbing-to-the-top-a-new-level-of-precision-at-the-tokyo-games&amp;vydata%5Bpage_id%5D=22659192274&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_page_id%5D=22659192274&amp;vydata%5Blegacy_page_id%5D=22659192274&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_folder_id%5D=null&amp;vydata%5Bcontent_group_id%5D=9880291723&amp;vydata%5Bab_test_id%5D=null&amp;vydata%5Blanguage_code%5D=null" title="Video" width="100%"></iframe> Democratizing dataAfter completion, over 100,000 data points are processed to recreate the kinematics of the climb before being uploaded to an online database. There, it can be accessed by coaches for remote analysis, meaning assessments can be made anywhere. The data can also be accessed by other climbers wanting to view and compare their own climbs with rival athletes before meeting them in competition.<img alt="Screenshot 2019-12-03 at 15.40.17" class="fr-fic fr-dii" data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://www.xsens.com/hubfs/Screenshot%202019-12-03%20at%2015.40.17.png">“I was able to see my climbing technique objectively, it’s like seeing myself climb from the point of view of the wall. Especially in speed, I could check my habits,” said Karin Kojima, climber.&nbsp;<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RBGDczXd3V8?&amp;wmode=opaque" style="width: 789px; height: 448px;"></iframe> Peak PerformanceThe introduction of inertial motion capture has the potential to raise the skill level of athletes in an Olympic sport still in its infancy—athletes are reaching for new heights, and&nbsp;holding on.&nbsp;MVN Analyze software trial requestYou can request a 15 day trial for the MVN Analyze software by filling out your details <a href="https://www.xsens.com/trial-request?hsCtaTracking=f48936ce-b605-4f6e-aab6-dbcfe43208e3%7Cfbd107a2-d450-495b-a630-f017a7627aec" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

Climbing to the top

A New Level Of Precision For Sport Climbing

<h2>Akira Science AB, a start-up based in Stockholm, is betting on the combination of two revolutionary disciplines: tissue engineering and 3D printing.&nbsp;</h2>These two disciplines used to belong to two different stories that are now deeply interconnected. During the last fifty years scientists and surgeons have combined the concepts of life sciences, biology and biocompatible materials to construct functional tissues and open the way to innovative and less invasive techniques respect to traditional surgical transplants. They have been looking for new materials to substitute classical treatments to improve medical treatments where autograph or allograph of explanted tissues are required due to disease or trauma. In parallel to this story, 3D printing technologies also known as Additive Manufacturing (AM) were born in the 1980s and initially intended to quickly produce prototypes within industrial applications. When 3D printing technologies later met tissue engineering, a powerful combination consolidated to create structures with controlled geometry and high rate of reproducibility. Tissue engineers have been seeking for structures &ndash; scaffolds&nbsp;&ndash; that can provide structural and mechanical support to a damaged tissue while promoting its regeneration and allowing nutrients&rsquo; supply to the cells.The 3D printing market has been growing fast during the last decade releasing innovative technologies and materials, especially for the medical sector. 3D printing is transforming the way we manufacture objects from a centralized to a decentralized, customized production onsite.Akira Science is projected to have an active role in these future landscapes of smart and innovative manufacturing technologies applied to degradable materials for medical applications. The business potential arises from the ever-increasing need of patient-specific medical devices and of timely laboratory biological studies to test drugs and new clinical strategies - never so evident like in this pandemic period.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1590050859860-1590050859859.png" style="width: 655px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">A cutting-edge new material and a smart scaffold design are the complementary and revolutionary points of force of Akira&rsquo;s strategy. The newly developed polymer (AKIMed-c12) has exceptional thermal stability, ensuring control of the material properties while printing, presenting a faster degradation time in the body environment than the current utilized materials (from 3-5 years to 9-10 months). Although newly formulated, AKIMed-c12 is made starting from well-established building blocks for the synthesis of approved biomedical materials, ensuring biocompatibility and non-toxicity in the physiological environment. While the printed scaffolds are not hard as the current available ones, but soft and pliable proving comfort to the patient (AKIMed-c12: 3D printed scaffolds).<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GdgRqw2ZHjw?&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> The new material will be the workhorse for the 3D printing of degradable medical devices, while the smart design opens the way to new applications in tissue regeneration that were not possible until today utilizing the materials available on the market. Akira team is confident that such a combination has the potential to expand the scope of degradable 3D printed scaffolds from hard, for example bone, to soft tissue regeneration, such as breast reconstruction after mastectomy.Akira Science is providing both filaments for 3D printing and scaffolds with an architecture that satisfies customers&rsquo; need. Researchers and clinicians can buy the filament (AKIMed-c12: filament) and print the desired shape in their own facilities or can decide to ask Akira for printing their customized devices. Akira also provides support and consulting to collaborators and customers with material selection, design and simulation of the mechanical behavior of the desired scaffolds.The company continues to invest in open innovation through a continuous dialogue with customers and by setting new strategies to map future needs in tissue engineering and 3D printing opportunities.<hr>&Aacute;lvaro Morales and Tiziana Fuoco (AKIRA Science AB)

“The nexus between two revolutionary disciplines is inspiring us towards a future improved society”

Tissue Engineering and 3D Printing: Two Revolutionary Disciplines Now Fused Into One

Of the many ways that humans make sense of our world&mdash;with our eyes, ears, nose and mouth&mdash;none is perhaps less appreciated than our tactile and versatile hands.Thanks to our sensitive fingertips, we can feel the heat before we touch the flame, or sense the softness of a newborn&rsquo;s cheek.But people with prosthetic limbs live in a world without touch. Restoring some semblance of this sensation has been a driving force behind Stanford chemical engineer and K.K.Lee professor in the school of engineering <a href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30855492/profiles.stanford.edu?p=eyJzIjoiWTVNaFpWY2NQcm5kTE1FYWF6a1BnNHFIbWMwIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDg1NTQ5MixcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3Byb2ZpbGVzLnN0YW5mb3JkLmVkdVxcXC96aGVuYW4tYmFvXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiYjVkZGU4ZGU0YzEyNDlmMzg0MWYyNDMyN2FmMmQzMzdcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCJkMGY0ZGMxYjBmMDE3OTkzNjhmOGE4NzJlMmViNzQ3ZTFjZmNmMjBkXCJdfSJ9" target="_blank">Zhenan Bao</a>&rsquo;s <a href="https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30855492/engineering.stanford.edu?p=eyJzIjoiV0hLZGhnRnRPU0JiNHdzeVNOcmFkcDhyR0hFIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDg1NTQ5MixcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL2VuZ2luZWVyaW5nLnN0YW5mb3JkLmVkdVxcXC9tYWdhemluZVxcXC9hcnRpY2xlXFxcL3poZW5hbi1iYW8tcXVlc3QtZGV2ZWxvcC1hcnRpZmljaWFsLXNraW5cIixcImlkXCI6XCJiNWRkZThkZTRjMTI0OWYzODQxZjI0MzI3YWYyZDMzN1wiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcIjNiMTBjYzkwMzliNDc3ODRhNDcyZjMyM2M3OWFjYjg5YjllN2EzMDJcIl19In0" target="_blank">decades-long quest</a> to create stretchable, electronically-sensitive synthetic materials. Such a breakthrough could one day serve as skin-like coverings for prosthetics. But in the near term, this same technology could become the foundation for the evolution of new genre of flexible electronics that are in stark contrast with rigid smartphones that many of us carry, gingerly, in our back pockets.Now, in a Feb. 19&nbsp;Nature&nbsp;paper, Bao and her team describe two technical firsts that could bring this 20-year goal to fruition: the creation of a stretchable, polymer circuitry with integrated touch-sensors to detect the delicate footprint of an artificial ladybug. And while this technical achievement is a milestone, the second, and more practical, advance is a method to mass produce this new class of flexible, stretchable electronics&mdash;a critical step on the path to commercialization, Bao said.&ldquo;Research into synthetic skin and flexible electronics has come a long way, but until now no one had demonstrated a process to reliably manufacture stretchable circuits,&rdquo; Bao said.Bao&rsquo;s hope is that manufacturers might one day be able to make sheets of polymer-based electronics embedded with a broad variety of sensors, and eventually connect these flexible, multipurpose circuits with a person&rsquo;s nervous system. Such a product would be analogous to the vastly more complex biochemical sensory network and surface protection &ldquo;material&rdquo; that we call human skin, which can not only sense touch, but temperature and other phenomena, as well. But long before artificial skin becomes possible, the processes reported in this Nature paper will enable the creation of foldable, stretchable touchscreens, electronic clothing or skin-like patches for medical applications.<h2>Layer by layer</h2>Bao said their production process involves several layers of new-age polymers, some that provide the material&rsquo;s elasticity and others with intricately patterned electronic meshes. Still, others serve as insulators to isolate the electronically sensitive material. One step in the production process involves the use of an inkjet printer to, in essence, paint on certain layers.&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve engineered all of these layers and their active elements to work together flawlessly,&rdquo; said post-doctoral scholar Sihong Wang, co-lead author of the paper.The team has successfully fashioned its material in squares about two inches on a side containing more than 6,000 individual signal-processing devices that act like synthetic nerve endings. All this is encapsulated in a waterproof protective layer.The prototype can be stretched to double its original dimensions&mdash;and back again&mdash;all the while maintaining its ability to conduct electricity without cracks, delamination or wrinkles. To test durability, the team stretched a sample more than one thousand times without significant damage or loss of sensitivity. The real test came when the researchers adhered their sample to a human hand.&ldquo;It works great, even on irregularly shaped surfaces,&rdquo; said postdoctoral scholar Jie Xu, and the paper&rsquo;s other co-lead author.Perhaps most promising of all, the fabrication process described in this paper could become a platform for evaluating other stretchable electronic materials developed by other researchers that could one day begin to replace today&rsquo;s rigid electronics.Bao said much work lies ahead before these new materials and processes are as ubiquitous and capable as rigid silicon circuitry. First up, she said, her team must improve the electronic speed and performance of their prototype, but this is a promising step.&ldquo;I believe we&rsquo;re on the verge of a whole new world of electronics,&rdquo; Bao said.

A technical first could enable the creation of foldable, stretchable touchscreens. | Illustration by Stefani Billings

​Stanford researchers have set the stage for an evolution in electronics by taking the concept of ‘artificial skin’ to the next level.

Stretchable, touch-sensitive electronics

Festo pneumatic muscle actuator promotional image.

Advancements in pressurized fluid power systems may hold the key to the next generation of Biomimetic Robots.

Biomechanical Marvel-Fluidic Muscle Technology

Implantation of a stent-like flow diverter can offer one option for less invasive treatment of brain aneurysms &ndash; bulges in blood vessels &ndash; but the procedure requires frequent monitoring while the vessels heal. Now, a multi-university research team has demonstrated proof-of-concept for a highly flexible and stretchable sensor that could be integrated with the flow diverter to monitor hemodynamics in a blood vessel without costly diagnostic procedures.The sensor, which uses capacitance changes to measure blood flow, could reduce the need for testing to monitor the flow through the diverter. Researchers, led by Georgia Tech, have shown that the sensor accurately measures fluid flow in animal blood vessels in vitro, and are working on the next challenge: wireless operation that could allow in vivo testing.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1571290181747-sensor_9577.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Woon-Hong Yeo, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech&rsquo;s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, holds a flow sensor on a stent backbone. (Credit: John Toon, Georgia Tech)&nbsp;The research was reported July 18 in the journal ACS Nano and was supported by multiple grants from Georgia Tech&rsquo;s Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, the University of Pittsburgh and the Korea Institute of Materials Science.&nbsp;&ldquo;The nanostructured sensor system could provide advantages for patients, including a less invasive aneurysm treatment and an active monitoring capability,&rdquo; said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.me.gatech.edu/faculty/yeo" target="_blank">Woon-Hong Yeo</a>, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.me.gatech.edu/" target="_blank">George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bme.gatech.edu/" target="_blank">Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University</a>. &ldquo;The integrated system could provide active monitoring of hemodynamics after surgery, allowing the doctor to follow up with quantitative measurement of how well the flow diverter is working in the treatment.&rdquo;Cerebral aneurysms occur in up to five percent of the population, with each aneurysm carrying a one percent risk per year of rupturing, noted Youngjae Chun, an associate professor in the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Aneurysm rupture will cause death in up to half of affected patients.&nbsp;Endovascular therapy using platinum coils to fill the aneurysm sac has become the standard of care for most aneurysms, but recently a new endovascular approach &ndash; a flow diverter &ndash; has been developed to treat cerebral aneurysms. Flow diversion involves placing a porous stent across the neck of an aneurysm to redirect flow away from the sac, generating local blood clots within the sac.&ldquo;We have developed a highly stretchable, hyper-elastic flow diverter using a highly-porous thin film nitinol,&rdquo; Chun explained. &ldquo;None of the existing flow diverters, however, provide quantitative, real-time monitoring of hemodynamics within the sac of cerebral aneurysm. Through the collaboration with Dr. Yeo&#39;s group at Georgia Tech, we have developed a smart flow-diverter system that can actively monitor the flow alterations during and after surgery.&rdquo; &nbsp;Repairing the damaged artery takes months or even years, during which the flow diverter must be monitored using MRI and angiogram technology, which is costly and involves injection of a magnetic dye into the blood stream. Yeo and his colleagues hope their sensor could provide simpler monitoring in a doctor&rsquo;s office using a wireless inductive coil to send electromagnetic energy through the sensor. By measuring how the energy&rsquo;s resonant frequency changes as it passes through the sensor, the system could measure blood flow changes into the sac.&ldquo;We are trying to develop a batteryless, wireless device that is extremely stretchable and flexible that can be miniaturized enough to be routed through the tiny and complex blood vessels of the brain and then deployed without damage,&rdquo; said Yeo. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very challenging to insert such electronic system into the brain&rsquo;s narrow and contoured blood vessels.&rdquo;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1571290214140-sensor_0903.jpg" style="width: 753px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">With gloved fingers for scale, a proof-of-concept flow sensor is shown here on a stent backbone. (Credit: Woon-Hong Yeo, Georgia Tech) The sensor uses a micro-membrane made of two metal layers surrounding a dielectric material, and wraps around the flow diverter. The device is just a few hundred nanometers thick, and is produced using nanofabrication and material transfer printing techniques, encapsulated in a soft elastomeric material.&ldquo;The membrane is deflected by the flow through the diverter, and depending on the strength of the flow, the velocity difference, the amount of deflection changes,&rdquo; Yeo explained. &ldquo;We measure the amount of deflection based on the capacitance change, because the capacitance is inversely proportional to the distance between two metal layers.&rdquo;Because the brain&rsquo;s blood vessels are so small, the flow diverters can be no more than five to ten millimeters long and a few millimeters in diameter. That rules out the use of conventional sensors with rigid and bulky electronic circuits.&ldquo;Putting functional materials and circuits into something that size is pretty much impossible right now,&rdquo; Yeo said. &ldquo;What we are doing is very challenging based on conventional materials and design strategies.&rdquo;The researchers tested three materials for their sensors: gold, magnesium and the nickel-titanium alloy known as nitinol. All can be safely used in the body, but magnesium offers the potential to be dissolved into the bloodstream after it is no longer needed.The proof-of-principle sensor was connected to a guide wire in the in vitro testing, but Yeo and his colleagues are now working on a wireless version that could be implanted in a living animal model. While implantable sensors are being used clinically to monitor abdominal blood vessels, application in the brain creates significant challenges.&ldquo;The sensor has to be completely compressed for placement, so it must be capable of stretching 300 or 400 percent,&rdquo; said Yeo. &ldquo;The sensor structure has to be able to endure that kind of handling while being conformable and bending to fit inside the blood vessel.&rdquo;

A proof-of-concept flow sensor is shown here on a stent backbone. (Credit: John Toon, Georgia Tech)

Implantation of a stent-like flow diverter can offer one option for less invasive treatment of brain aneurysms – bulges in blood vessels – but the procedure requires frequent monitoring while the vessels heal.

Integrated Sensor Could Monitor Brain Aneurysm Treatment

Infrared spectroscopy is the benchmark method for detecting and analyzing organic compounds. But it requires complicated procedures and large, expensive instruments, making device miniaturization challenging and hindering its use for some industrial and medical applications and for data collection out in the field, such as for measuring pollutant concentrations. Furthermore, it is fundamentally limited by low sensitivities and therefore requires large sample amounts.However, scientists at EPFL&rsquo;s School of Engineering and at Australian National University (ANU) have developed a compact and sensitive nanophotonic system that can identify a molecule&rsquo;s absorption characteristics without using conventional spectrometry. The scientists have already used their system to detect polymers, pesticides and organic compounds. What&rsquo;s more, it is compatible with CMOS technology.Their system consists of an engineered surface covered with hundreds of tiny sensors called metapixels, which can generate a distinct bar code for every molecule that the surface comes into contact with. These bar codes can be massively analyzed and classified using advanced pattern recognition and sorting technology such as artificial neural networks. This research &ndash; which sits at the crossroads of physics, nanotechnology and big data &ndash; has been published in&nbsp;Science.Translating molecules into bar codes The chemical bonds in organic molecules each have a specific orientation and vibrational mode. It influences the way molecules absorb light, giving each one a unique &ldquo;signature.&rdquo; Infrared spectroscopy detects whether a given molecule is present in a sample by seeing if the sample absorbs light rays at the molecule&rsquo;s signature frequencies. However, such analyses require lab instruments with a hefty size and price tag.The pioneering system developed by the EPFL scientists is both highly sensitive and capable of being miniaturized; it uses nanostructures that can trap light on the nanoscale and thereby provide very high detection levels for samples on the surface. &ldquo;The molecules we want to detect are nanometric in scale, so bridging this size gap is an essential step,&rdquo; says Hatice Altug, head of EPFL&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://bios.epfl.ch/" target="_blank">BioNanoPhotonic Systems Laboratory</a> and a coauthor of the study.The system&rsquo;s nanostructures are grouped into what are called metapixels so that each one resonates at a different frequency. When a molecule comes into contact with the surface, the way the molecule absorbs light changes the behavior of all the metapixels it touches.&ldquo;Importantly, the metapixels are arranged in such a way that different vibrational frequencies are mapped to different areas on the surface,&rdquo; says Andreas Tittl, lead author of the study.This creates a pixelated map of light absorption that can be translated into a molecular bar code &ndash; all without using a spectrometer.&ldquo;Thanks to our sensors&rsquo; unique optical properties, we can generate bar codes even with broadband light sources and detectors,&rdquo; says Aleksandrs Leitis, a coauthor of the study.There are a number of potential applications for this new system. &ldquo;For instance, it could be used to make portable medical testing devices that generate bar codes for each of the biomarkers found in a blood sample,&rdquo; says Dragomir Neshev, another coauthor of the study.Artificial intelligence could be used in conjunction with this new technology to create and process a whole library of molecular bar codes for compounds ranging from protein and DNA to pesticides and polymers. That would give researchers a new tool for quickly and accurately spotting miniscule amounts of compounds present in complex samples.

A new system developed at EPFL can detect and analyze molecules with very high precision and without needing bulky equipment. It opens the door to large-scale, image-based detection of materials aided by artificial intelligence. The research has been published in Science.

Infrared spectroscopy is the benchmark method for detecting and analyzing organic compounds.

A nanotech sensor turns molecular fingerprints into bar codes

An array of silver-TPU ink sensors printed on a flexible TPU base. (Image courtesy of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering)

New method combines precision printing of stretchable conductive inks with pick-and-place of electronic components to make flexible, wearable sensors

Low-cost wearables manufactured by hybrid 3D printing

The next generation of Harvard’s Ambulatory Microrobot (HAMR) can walk on land, swim on the surface of water, and walk underwater, opening up new environments for this little bot to explore.  (Credit: Yufeng Chen, Neel Doshi, and Benjamin Goldberg/Harvard University)

‘HAMR’ can walk on land, swim, and walk underwater

Next-generation robotic cockroach can explore underwater environments

Robots perform many tasks that humans can&rsquo;t or don&#39;t want to perform, getting around on intricately designed wheels and limbs. If they tip over, however, they are rendered almost useless. A team of University of Illinois mechanical engineers and entomologists are looking to click beetles, who can right themselves without the use of their legs, to solve this robotics challenge.The researchers presented their findings at Living Machines 2017: The 6th International Conference on Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems at Stanford University, and later won second place in a student and faculty research competition at the international BIOMinnovate Challenge, in Paris, France &ndash; a research expo that showcases biologically-inspired design in engineering, medicine and architecture.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9ozz2jRfBUk?&wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 766px; height: 406px;" frameborder="0"></iframe> &ldquo;This idea came to life when a group of insect physiology students decided to take a closer look at what makes click beetles jump as part of a class project,&rdquo; said <a href="https://www.life.illinois.edu/entomology/index.html" target="_blank">department of entomology</a> research scientist and study co-author <a href="https://www.life.illinois.edu/entomology/faculty/alleyne.html" target="_blank">Marianne Alleyne.</a>The beetles have a unique hinge-like mechanism between their heads and abdomens that makes a clicking sound when initiated and allows them to flip into the air and back onto their feet when they are knocked over, Alleyne said.&ldquo;Very little research had been performed on these beetles, and I thought this legless jumping mechanism would be a perfect candidate for further exploration in the field of bioinspiration,&rdquo; said Alleyne, who teaches a bioinspiration design course with <a href="https://mechanical.illinois.edu/" target="_blank">mechanical science and engineering</a> professor, co-author and lead investigator <a href="https://mechanical.illinois.edu/directory/faculty/awissa" target="_blank">Aimy Wissa</a>.The researchers looked at several species of click beetles, ranging in size from a few just few millimeters to several centimeters in length.&ldquo;Each insect goes through an assembly line of analyses that involve basic characterization, high-speed filming to observe the jump and measurements in the <a href="https://publish.illinois.edu/tribology/" target="_blank">Materials Tribiology Lab</a> with co-author and mechanical science and engineering professor <a href="http://mechanical.illinois.edu/directory/profile/acd" target="_blank">Alison Dunn</a>, to determine how much force it takes to overcome the friction of the hinge within an individual beetles jumping mechanism,&rdquo; Wissa said. &ldquo;We observe, model and validate each stage of the jump with the hopes that we can later integrate them into a self-righting robot.&rdquo;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1568998642025-118939.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The University of Illinois click beetle robotics team. Front row, from left: Professor Aimy Wissa, Aidan Garrett, Luis Urrutia, Ophelia Bolmin and professor Alison Dunn. Back row, from left: Isandro Malik, Xander Hazel, Robert Chapa, Harmen Alleyne, Chengfang Duan and research scientist Marianne Alleyne. Garrett, Malik and H. Alleyne are University of Illinois Laboratory High School students. Photo by L. Brian StaufferThe group has already built several prototypes of a hinge-like, spring-loaded device that will eventually be incorporated into a robot, the researchers said.&ldquo;This study is a two-way street &ndash; engineers are informing the biologists and vice versa,&rdquo; Wissa said. &ldquo;We look forward to seeing where this research will take us and are very proud of the attention it received at the BIOMinnovate Challenge expo.&rdquo;

Click beetles can jump without the aid of their limbs when they are tipped onto their backsides. A team of University of Illinois researchers are examining this mechanism to engineer self-righting robots.  Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

Robots perform many tasks that humans can’t or don't want to perform, getting around on intricately designed wheels and limbs. If they tip over, however, they are rendered almost useless.