| NSF Org: |
TI Translational Impacts |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | September 6, 2022 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | September 6, 2022 |
| Award Number: | 2229418 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Daniel McAdams
TI Translational Impacts TIP Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships |
| Start Date: | September 15, 2022 |
| End Date: | August 31, 2024 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $300,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $300,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1109 GEDDES AVE STE 3300 ANN ARBOR MI US 48109-1015 (734)763-6438 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
503 THOMPSON ST ANN ARBOR MI US 48109-1340 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | POSE |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): | |
| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.084 |
ABSTRACT
This project is funded by the Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems (POSE) Program which seeks to harness the power of open-source development for the creation of new technology solutions to problems of national and societal importance. The objective of this project is to develop an ecosystem for the Open-Source Bionic Leg system, which gives researchers access to a fully capable and standardized hardware platform. The intent of the Open-Source Leg is to lower the barrier to studying the challenges of controlling robotic prosthetic legs. The Open-Source Leg system enables researchers to more easily study and compare different control strategies without the prohibitive cost of developing a robotic leg from scratch. The overarching goal of this work is to accelerate the impact of the Open-Source Leg through the development of open-access materials and community interaction. The project's novelties are the purpose-built development of robotic leg hardware, software, and open-source tools designed for broad, open access.
To further the ecosystem for the Open-Source Leg, the aims of this project are threefold: 1) discover the appropriate ecosystem and deployment mechanisms through interaction with existing and future users; 2) build and refine the open-source infrastructure and governance tools through discussions with other open-source ecosystems, especially organizations that manage open-source hardware; and 3) disseminate information about the Open-Source Leg project and its use through conferences and web-based media. The work may impact the lives of those with disabilities through the advancement of next-generation robotic leg prostheses.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
The Open-Source Leg (OSL) is an ecosystem of robotic hardware, software, and development tools that foster the study of robotic prosthetic legs and their control strategies. This project seeks to address the significant barrier of developing a robotic leg prosthesis, and provide a common hardware and software platform to facilitate research and clinical translation. The OSL project has made significant strides over the past 1-2 years, achieving milestones in community engagement, technological innovation, and knowledge dissemination, which will be briefly described below in the context of the project’s intellectual merit and broader impacts. An image depicting the OSL ecosystem is included, which provides QR codes to the resources developed under this initiative.
Intellectual Merit
- Ecosystem Mapping and Community Insights
The NSF POSE I training program enabled a comprehensive mapping of the OSL community, identifying diverse user groups and their unique needs. This analysis highlighted barriers to engagement, inspiring a more intuitive and user-centric platform. Such systematic research lays a foundation for deeper understanding and innovation in prosthetic technology and open-source ecosystems. - New Website and Forum Development
The outdated WordPress site was replaced with a custom-built platform using NextJS, featuring enhanced speed, scalability, and usability. A revamped user experience, integrated community forum, and streamlined maintenance through CI/CD processes reflect best practices in web development. The immediate growth in user engagement—nearly 20,000 views and 366 sign-ups in six months—validates the platform’s effectiveness in fostering community participation. - Innovative Software Library
- Code Security and Reliability: The team boosted code coverage from 2% to 71%, employing rigorous unit testing and automated validation via GitHub Actions.
- Universal Python API: A versatile library was developed to interface with various hardware components, making robotics more accessible to researchers and hobbyists.
- Collaborative Code Sharing: A novel module allows researchers to share control strategies as compiled binaries, preserving intellectual property while promoting reproducibility and innovation.
- Outreach and Knowledge Dissemination
The OSL team actively shared its resources at conferences, workshops, and other events. Highlights include a hands-on workshop at the Summer School on Neurorehabilitation (Baiona, Spain), and demonstrations at OPTech (Minneapolis, MN) and AOPA conferences (Indianapolis, IN). These efforts introduced the platform to diverse audiences and fostered interdisciplinary collaboration and input.
Broader Impacts
- Empowering the Research Community
By creating accessible tools and resources, OSL promotes collaboration and accelerates advancements in prosthetics research. The Python API and code-sharing module lower the barriers to entry for researchers, enabling a global community to experiment, innovate, and contribute to the field. - Educational Outreach
Interactive workshops and demonstrations have brought cutting-edge prosthetic technology to students, clinicians, and researchers. These activities demystify the mechanics of powered prosthetics and highlight how OSL can drive real-world solutions. - Building a Sustainable Ecosystem
The new website and community forum enhance user interaction, while the software library establishes a scalable foundation for future innovation. By addressing challenges like cost-prohibitive hardware and limited access to proprietary knowledge, the project ensures inclusivity and long-term impact. - Fostering Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Outreach at clinical, technical, and interdisciplinary conferences bridges gaps between researchers, clinicians, and engineers. This cross-pollination of ideas fosters a robust ecosystem for innovation in neurorehabilitation and prosthetics.
The OSL project has laid an important foundation for the development of robotic prosthetic legs. The team has been encouraged by the interest from the field and broader robotics community, and there are now 15-25 groups around the world using the OSL ecosystem. The team is grateful to the National Science Foundation for enabling new mechanisms that support open-access development.
Last Modified: 01/02/2025
Modified by: Elliott J Rouse
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