FURI | Spring 2018

All in the Hips: Exoskeletal Design for Occupational Lift-Support and Rehabilitation

The focus of this research is to design a wearable system that will augment the user’s own lifting capabilities. Occupational lifting puts significant strain on the hips and lower back and leads to disorders such as osteoarthritis and lower back pain. Most systems on the market address these issues but in ways that limit or alter natural motion. The current design will relieve much of the strain on the lower back, hips and knees, while still allowing for poses such as kneeling, which other systems do not accommodate. Further research will incorporate user feedback to improve its design and functionality.