Picture a future where robotic legs enable people with disabilities to walk independently. A new open-source exoskeleton project from Northern Arizona University is bringing that vision closer to reality.
Currently, the high cost and time required to develop complex electromechanical systems often prevent research from getting off the ground. However, that could soon change.After years of work, NAU’s Zach Lerner has launched the first fully open-source exoskeleton framework, freely available worldwide. This breakthrough aims to remove major hurdles for aspiring developers and researchers in the field.
For an exoskeleton to be effective, it must provide real biomechanical benefits to the user, which requires significant trial and error and customization for individual needs.
Streamlining Complexity Through Shared Innovation
Exoskeletons are complex systems requiring expertise across multiple fields. Lerner’s framework eases development by letting newcomers build on years of prior research.
Named OpenExo and featured in Science Robotics, the open-source platform offers detailed guidance for creating single- or multi-joint exoskeletons. It includes design files, code, and step-by-step instructions—all freely available to anyone.
OpenExo Lowers Barriers and Fuels Next-Gen Rehabilitation Research
“Our project is valuable to the research community because it greatly reduces the barriers to entry,” said Lerner. “With federal grant funding on the decline, open-source platforms like OpenExo are becoming essential for advancing cutting-edge research in robot-assisted rehabilitation and mobility enhancement.”
Lerner’s team has already made a real impact—helping children with cerebral palsy stay active with their peers and assisting individuals with gait disorders and disabilities in improving their rehabilitation. Their work has attracted millions in grant funding and led to a spin-off company that brought a robotic ankle device to market. In addition, Lerner and his students hold nine patents related to exoskeleton development.
Lerner expressed hope that OpenExo will spark a surge in research in the field.
“Exoskeletons have the power to transform lives,” he said. “There’s nothing more rewarding than developing technology that can instantly improve someone’s quality of life.”
The paper’s lead author is postdoctoral researcher Jack Williams.
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