Pioneering professor gets wearable robotics research funding

An American professor in biomedical engineering has been given a $500k award to support his work soft in wearable robotics.

Conor Walsh, assistant professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has been selected to receive a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). One of the most prestigious honors recognizing early – career scientists and engineers, the award will support Walsh's research in the burgeoning field of soft wearable robotics.

The award is from NSF's General and Age Related Disabilities Engineering (GARDE) program, which advances fundamental engineering research that will lead to the development of new technologies for persons with disabilities. Walsh's work focuses on applying soft robotic systems to help individuals overcome disabilities, and to augment the performance of able–bodied people.

"Traditional robotic systems don't translate easily from industrial settings to medical and home applications," Walsh said. "One of the main reasons is because rigid components pose safety risks for people. We are overcoming that hurdle by designing soft robotic systems made of elastomers, fibers and textiles. A major aim of this work is to advance the state of the art of wearable robotics and intuitive human-robot interaction."

The $500,000 award will enable Walsh and his team to pursue work on a lightweight, soft robotic glove that could become an alternative to a therapist manipulating a patient's fingers and thumb to rehabilitate impaired hand function, or provide a patient with assistance in performing activities of daily living.

Walsh's team will collaborate with clinical partners to test prototypes of the system on a variety of patients, such as those who have suffered a stroke or have muscular dystrophy.

"Conor's work on soft wearable robotics has set a new paradigm for assistive systems through the design of devices that are fully compatible with humans," said Wyss Institute Founding Director Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. "It's great to see the National Science Foundation honor Conor for his pioneering work in the field of robotics, which has been truly visionary."