Episode 1: (Bio)Mechanics
May 20 1:30-5:30 PM EDT
Better, Faster, Stronger, … Lighter? Engineering Next-gen Robotic Leg Prostheses
Robotic leg prostheses promise to redefine mobility after lower-limb amputation. Critical to this goal is the development of lightweight, compact, and efficient designs. In this talk, I present a robotic leg prosthesis that replicates key biomechanical functions of the biological leg while matching the weight, size, and robustness of conventional microprocessor-controlled prostheses. The powered knee joint uses a unique torque-sensitive transmission combining the benefits of elastic actuators with that of variable transmissions. An underactuated mechanism powers the ankle and toe joints maximizing mechanical energy regeneration in the bionic foot. A compact, lightweight prosthesis frame encloses all mechanical and electrical components for increased robustness. Adaptive, volitional control strategies enable individuals with above-knee amputation to walk, climb stairs, cross over obstacles, squat, lunge, sit, and stand while seamlessly transitioning between all these activities.
Dr. Tommaso Lenzi
Tommaso Lenzi, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a Core Faculty in the Robotics Center at the University of Utah. Previously, he was Research Scientist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (2015-2016), and a Postdoctoral Fellow at Northwestern University (2013-2014). Dr. Lenzi received the PhD degree in Biorobotics from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in 2012 and the MS degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pisa in 2008. At Utah, he directs the Bionic Engineering Lab, where he conducts research sponsored by the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Health. His main research interests include robotics, mechatronics, and rehabilitation medicine with a major emphasis on the design and control of wearable robots for human assistance and rehabilitation. He serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, the International Conferences on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), and Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BIOROB). He is a member of IEEE, the Robotics and Automation Society (RAS), and the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS). Dr. Lenzi has co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 10 issued patents.