XoSoft - A vision for a soft modular lower limb exoskeleton

XoSoft is an EU project that proposes the development of a modular soft lower-limb exoskeleton to assist people with mobility impairments. It aims to be user friendly and comfortable to wear, with a significant impact on the person’s mobility and health, on their independence and quality of life. Being a modular system, it comprises of ankle, knee and hip elements, which can be used individually or combined and used unilaterally or bilaterally. XoSoft follows a user centered design strategy achieved by involving primary, secondary and tertiary end users as participatory stakeholders in the design and development process. Preliminary findings of the interviews with the different users groups are presented in this paper. Advanced textiles and smart materials are being developed to create sensing, variable stiffness joints and flexible tactile sensors. Control will be through biomimetics to identify the user’s motion and intention and to determine and provide the appropriate level of assistance. Connected health connectivity and analysis will enable the wearer and their clinicians/therapist to review activity information. The concept will be tested extensively in the lab, and subject to trials in clinical settings and home environments.