Robotic suit helps people to walk again

University of Twente working on solution for patients with spinal cord injuries

21 January 2010

Together with TU Delft and various other institutions, the University of Twente’s MIRA research institute is to start work on the development of a new robotic suit. This suit is intended to help people with spinal injuries, for example, to walk again. The legs of the robotic suit receive signals from the patient’s brain, which are relayed by a specially developed helmet. A prototype suit should be ready in three years’ time.

Together with TU Delft and various other institutions, the University of Twente is to develop a robotic suit. This will mean that patients who are currently confined to a wheelchair as a result of a spinal injury or cerebral haemorrhage will be able to walk again. The suit will be controlled by signals from the brain. To this end, patients will be given a stylish helmet capable of detecting brain signals and using them to control the robotic legs. All that the patients will have to do is to think about walking. The helmet picks up brain signals and relays them to the robotic legs, which then start to move. The system is known as Mindwalker. According to Herman van der Kooij, a researcher at the University of Twente's MIRA research institute, thousands of people will stand to benefit once development work on the system has been completed. Dr Van der Kooij states that "We aim to have a prototype ready in three years' time".

Robotic suit
The Biomedical Engineering departments of the University of Twente and TU Delft will join forces to develop the robotic suit. Other groups will focus on developing a helmet capable of relaying brain signals to the robotic suit.
The robotic suit itself, which is technically known as an exoskeleton, will have to be as small and manageable as possible. "If we are unable to make the suit small enough to hide under the wearer's clothing, then we will concentrate on making it as stylish and attractive as possible", comments Dr Van der Kooij. The large size of existing exoskeletons, such as the Lopes walking robot developed at the University of Twente, makes them unsuitable for everyday use. The new robotic suit, which will have to be easily manageable, is a first step towards the development of robotic suits for everyday use.

Further details:
The Mindwalker project is supported by the EU's Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, whose goals include accessible IT. The project is being coordinated by Space Applications Services NV. Further details: Communications Department, University of Twente, Rianne Wanders, +31-(0)53-4892721.