2011 — 2015 |
Seipel, Justin |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Dynamics of Elastic-Load Legged Locomotion
The research objective of this award is to determine how elastic suspended loads affect the dynamic stability and energetic cost of locomotion using fundamental spring-mass models and an experimental robotic platform. The objective will be pursued by: investigating the effects of tuned elastically suspended loads by analyzing the dynamics of a double-sprung-mass vertical oscillator model, determining how a vertically elastically-suspended load affects the dynamic motion of a clock-torqued spring-mass model of locomotion, and determining how suspending loads affects the locomotion of a multi-legged robot. Dynamical systems modeling, analysis, and simulation will be the primary theoretical methods used throughout the project. Further, video capture and data acquisition of the power consumption in an experimental robot setup will be utilized. This work will focus on fundamental and general spring-mass models of locomotion along with a multi-legged hexapod (or quadruped) robot platform.
The results of this research will enable advancement of robot, exoskeleton, and other load-carrying systems, and provide a greater understanding of the role elasticity plays in biology. Load-carrying systems, whether autonomous or directly attached to a human, can reduce the load for those conducting challenging or dangerous work. Example applications include load-carrying robots, exoskeletons, and devices to assist humans carrying load while walking or running. The results of this research will be disseminated and integrated with teaching through an interdisciplinary training course on biological and robotic locomotion and by including students in research activities. Demonstration of this research to K-12 students is expected to encourage greater participation in engineering, math, and science.
|
0.964 |
2012 — 2014 |
Mckillip, Matthew Seipel, Justin Ackerman, Jeffrey |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
I-Corps: Making Loads Lighter: a Handle Suspension For the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Injury
Millions of people around the world carry heavy loads, causing significant stress to their bodies. This can lead to musculoskeletal injury, which is the second most common reason for seeing a doctor in the United States. Based on previous NSF-funded research on load carrying during locomotion, the team has developed a proof-of-concept handle suspension technology for carrying loads that significantly reduce the likelihood of injury.
With this I-Corps support, the team will investigate the commercial potential of the proposed effort. Musculoskeletal injuries are common and cost over $850 billion/year in the United States alone. If successfully commercialized, it is believed that the proposed innovation has the potential to address this significant market opportunity.
|
0.964 |
2015 — 2018 |
Panitch, Alyssa (co-PI) [⬀] Duval-Couetil, Nathalie (co-PI) [⬀] Seipel, Justin Lynall, Matthew Deason, Gregory |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
I-Corps Sites: Purdue's Innovation Pipeline
Intellectual Merit: This project creates an I-Corps Site at Purdue University.
NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Sites are NSF-funded entities established at universities whose purpose is to nurture and support multiple, local teams to transition their technology concepts into the marketplace. Sites provide infrastructure, advice, resources, networking opportunities, training and modest funding to enable groups to transition their work into the marketplace or into becoming I-Corps Team applicants. I-Corps Sites also strengthen innovation locally and regionally and contribute to the National Innovation Network of mentors, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors.
The overall goal of this project is to expand Purdue's innovation ecosystem. This Site increases the number of successful commercialization projects by developing the commercialization and entrepreneurial skills of faculty, postdocs, and graduate students through the resources and infrastructure provided by Purdue's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship (BDMCE) and their Foundry program. These activities are supported through the involvement of key researchers and mentors who help create and support I-Corps teams in the areas of biomedical technology and engineering technologies. The objectives of Purdue?s Sites include: 1) Increase the level of customer development activity by I-Corps Site teams by providing support through the BDMCE's Foundry; 2) Develop the commercialization and entrepreneurial skills of graduate students in life sciences/health care, engineering technologies and management through the support of I-Corps Site teams in several domain-specific Lean LaunchPad courses; and 3) Build a better understanding of the characteristics, motivations, and needs of university-supported commercialization teams through assessment and evaluation
Broader Impacts: By enabling over thirty teams a year to actively move through the Foundry's processes, the outcomes of this project will include the increase in both activity and knowledge that will mpact the innovation ecosystem at Purdue. In addition, this can lead to the rise in the quality and quantity of end products supported by the BDMCE. Faculty involved in the project will also increase their experience as mentors, researchers and innovators through their sustained involvement in this I-Corps project.
By supporting entrepreneurial teams in several technology/market domains, Purdue may further their understanding and codification of the processes and activities that are appropriate to commercialize each technology -- and those that are not -- and contribute to the global body of knowledge about entrepreneurship. The project's assessment outputs, and the academic articles that they will enable, will help both Purdue and other universities better understand best practices for the support of student-led teams. Also, in line with their overall goal, the Purdue I-Corps Site will help ensure that more research benefits society.
|
0.964 |