Human Neuromechanics Laboratory
Dr. Daniel Ferris
1206A CCRB
401 Washtenaw Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214
Phone: (734) 615-1711
Dr. Ferris' research web site (leaving Kinesiology site)
Research Overview
Research in the Human Neuromechanics Laboratory focuses on how the human nervous and musculoskeletal systems interact to produce coordinated movement. Studies span the ranges from basic to applied and from experimental to theoretical.
Current Projects
Pneumatically powered lower limb exoskeletons
We are building carbon-fiber lower limb orthoses powered by artificial pneumatic muscles (i.e. McKibben muscles) and controlled by myoelectrical signals. We are currently testing these robotic ankle-foot orthoses as rehabilitation aids after incomplete spinal cord injury (NIH grant). A second aim is to determine how robotic assistance at the ankle, knee, or hip can reduce the metabolic cost of walking in healthy neurologically intact individuals (NSF grant).
Idy Usoro attaches pneumatically driven muscles
on the
knee-ankle-foot orthosis (click on photo for a close-up)
Computer simulations of neuromechanical systems.
Simple mathematical equations can model the behavior of neural circuits that help control locomotion. We are coupling these mathematical neural oscillators with biomechanical models to test hypotheses about neuromechanical control. It is anticipated that these mathematical neural oscillators will eventually be implemented as an alternative control strategy for the lower limb exoskeleton.
Rehabilitation strategies for improving walking ability after neurological injury
We are studying ways that individuals with spinal cord injury or stroke can perform therapeutic exercises on their own, without direct assistance from physical therapists. Our long-term goal is to develop inexpensive at-home exercise machines that patients can use to improve their walking ability.
Self-Assisted Stepping for Neurologic Rehabilitation
Recent scientific evidence indicates that task-specific active exercise can
greatly improve motor recovery after stroke or spinal cord injury.
Traditional physical therapy techniques rely on patients performing
motor tasks very slowly with therapists providing manual assistance.
We believe that giving the patient control over the timing and amount
of physical assistance can increase neuromuscular recruitment and
promote greater activity-dependent plasticity. Allowing patients to
provide their own 'self-assistance' should also enable them to perform
task-specific active exercise at normal movement speeds. This is important
because recent studies have demonstrated that faster movement speeds
during rehabilitation lead to better functional gains in motor recovery.
We are studying individuals with spinal cord injury and stroke as
they perform a stepping motion on a commercially available exercise
machine (NuStep TRS 4000, a recumbent stepper designed for cardiovascular
exercise). The stepping machine has handles and pedals that are contralaterally
coupled, allowing subjects to use their own arms to assist their lower
limbs during stepping. The basic premise we are testing is that self-assisted
rehabilitation will enhance motor recovery compared to externally-assisted
rehabilitation.
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CAREER: Biomechanics and energetics of human locomotion with powered exoskeletons
This five-year CAREER Development project will examine the biomechanics and energetics of human locomotion with powered lower limb exoskeletons. The Human Neuromechanics Laboratory at The University of Michigan has developed carbon fiber lower limb exoskeletons that can comfortably supply active torque assistance at the ankle, knee, and hip during walking and running. Artificial pneumatic muscles attached to a carbon fiber shell provide high power outputs while minimizing exoskeleton weight. Myoelectrical signals from biological muscles control force in the artificial muscles in a physiologically appropriate manner. Although the exoskeletons are limited to laboratory use because they require a large source of compressed air, they are ideal for studying human responses to powered locomotor assistance.
The objective of the research plan is to quantify the effects of powered assistance on the energetics of walking and running. We will measure the metabolic efficiency of external power assistance at the ankle, knee, and hip during walking and running over a range of speeds and added loads. The intellectual merit of these studies will be in two separate areas. From a physiological perspective, the results will provide important insight into the mechanical factors that determine the metabolic cost of locomotion. There is considerable debate among biomechanists and physiologists as to the mechanical actions and functions of lower limb muscles during walking and running. The exoskeleton allows us to selectively manipulate artificial flexor and extensor strength and then relate their force and work to changes in metabolic energy consumption. From an engineering perspective, the results will provide much needed guidance for creation of future lower limb exoskeletons. We will be able to quantify the biomechanical and metabolic benefit of adding external power to the ankle vs. knee vs. hip. These data will be instrumental in performing cost-benefit analyses of actuator and exoskeleton design for gait rehabilitation and human performance augmentation.
The objective of the educational plan is to use exoskeleton research to introduce problem-based discovery learning into the curriculum of students preparing for health science careers (e.g. physician, physical/occupational therapist, prosthetist/orthotist). The plan includes: a) creating an upper division course on gait biomechanics that incorporates hands-on experimentation and testing related to exoskeletons for human augmentation and rehabilitation, b) recruiting and training female and minority undergraduate students for exoskeleton research projects in the Human Neuromechanics Laboratory, and c) creating an interactive web page on robotic exoskeletons that can be used as an educational resource for secondary and undergraduate students. Thus, the broader impacts of these activities will be to enhance science and technology education of students at the college and high school level, increase participation of underrepresented groups in biomechanics research, and advance scientific and technological understanding of the public by broadly disseminating state of the art research on robotic exoskeletons.
“The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards for new faculty members. The CAREER program recognizes and supports the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who are most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st century. CAREER awardees were selected on the basis of creative, career-development plans that effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their institution.”
— from the National Science Foundation web site
Research Experience for Undergraduates Supplement
This supplement is for undergraduate students to assist with research
related to the NSF CAREER Award.
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News
- The spring in your step is more than just a good mood
Laura Bailey
University Record
Apr. 23, 2008
Scientists using a bionic boot found that during walking, the ankle does about three times the work for the same amount of energy compared to isolated muscles—in other words, the spring in your step is very real and helps us move efficiently.
While much has been done measuring the efficiency of individual muscles, this is the first known study to measure the energy efficiency of a body part such as the ankle, said Dr. Daniel Ferris, associate professor with the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology and lead researcher on the project.
The results suggest manufacturers should rethink prosthesis design so the ankle part can do more of the work, said Ferris, who also holds an appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. It also sheds light on why rehabilitation and mobility is so exhausting for people with unhealthy ankles or neurologic problems. More...
- People re-learn to walk, balance more quickly without handrails
Laura Bailey
University Record
Nov. 15, 2007
New research from U-M suggests that people re-learning how to balance while walking will benefit more if they practice without handrails or other assistance.
School of Kinesiology researchers set out to test the idea that physical assistance can improve walking balance by having healthy subjects learn to walk on a narrow balance beam.
Researchers found healthy subjects had greater improvements in performance, however, when they practiced the task without holding handrails than when they practiced while holding them. The findings challenge the conventional method of physical therapy, where therapists physically assist patients who are trying to re-learn to walk after injury. This type of assistance is akin to putting training wheels on a bike when a child learns to ride.
"These findings will help determine the ideal way to use physical assistance in therapy settings and also be helpful in designing robotic devices used for rehabilitation," says Antoinette Domingo, physical therapist and doctoral student who led the study. Domingo works in the lab of Daniel Ferris, associate professor of Kinesiology. More...
- Artificial muscles
Terry Knight
Engineering TV
Episode 62, Aug. 13, 2007
A robotic exoskeleton controlled by the wearer's own nervous system could help users regain limb function, according to U-M Kinesiology Researcher Dan Ferris, Associate Professor of Movement Science and director of the Human Neuromechanics Laboratory. Video.
- Robotic exoskeleton replaces muscle work
Laura Bailey
UM News Service
Feb. 8, 2007
Dan Ferris, Ph.D., director of the Human Neuromechanics Laboratory, has been developing a robotic ankle exoskeleton that can be controlled by the wearer's own nervous system. It may have promising applications for rehabilitation and physical therapy for people with partial nervous system impairment, such as stroke patients.
Full story, including videos.
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Project Photos
Click on a photo or caption for a better view.
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Members
Faculty:
Daniel Ferris, Ph.D. (ferrisdp@umich.edu), Director
Scott McLean, Ph.D. (mcleansc@umich.edu), Co-Director
Riann Palmieri-Smith, Ph.D., A.T.C. (riannp@umich.edu), Co-Director
Research Assistants:
Monica Majcher, M.S. (mmajcher@umich.edu)
Danielle Sandella, B.S. (sandella@umich.edu)
Post-Doctoral Fellows:
Cara Lewis (caralew@umich.edu)
Amy Sipp (amysipp@umich.edu)
Graduate Students:
Evelyn Anaka, M.S. (evana@umich.edu)
Michael Cherry, M.S. (mscherry@umich.edu)
Joseph Gwin, M.S. (jgwin@umich.edu)
Helen Huang, M.S. (hjhuang@umich.edu)
Pei-Chun Kao, M.S., P.T. (kaop@umich.edu)
Annie Simon, M.S. (asimon@umich.edu)
Sasha Voloshina, B.S. (voloshis@umich.edu)
Undergraduate Student(s):
Kristin Carroll (krcarrol@umich.edu)
Kurt Sieloff (kmsielo@umich.edu)
Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician:
Anne Manier (annemani@umich.edu)
Collaborators:
Brent Gillespie, Ph.D. (brentg@umich.edu), U-M Mechanical Engineering
Klaus Gramann, Ph.D., UC San Diego Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience
Jessy Grizzle, Ph.D. (grizzle@umich.edu), U-M Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Brian Kelly, D.O. (brikelly@umich.edu), U-M Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Art Kuo, Ph.D. (artkuo@umich.edu), U-M Mechanical Engineering
Scott Makeig, Ph.D., UC San Diego Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience
Ammanath Peethambaran, M.S., C.O. (peeth@umich.edu), U-M Orthotics and Prosthetics Center
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Links
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