HUman EXoskEleton

Project Information

HUMEXE

Grant agreement ID: 784560

DOI

10.3030/784560

Project closed

EC signature date 20 September 2017

Start date 1 October 2017

End date 30 November 2023

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

Total cost

€ 1 911 875,00

EU contribution

€ 1 338 312,50

Coordinated by

TECNIMUSA S.L.
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - HUMEXE (HUman EXoskEleton)

Reporting period: 2019-10-01 to 2023-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The HUMEXE project focuses on the challenges faced by people with spinal cord injuries, in particular paraplegics. These people often have limited mobility, which considerably reduces their quality of life. The inability to walk not only affects their physical health, but also their psychological well-being, social interactions and economic opportunities.
During the project, Tecnimusa, an R&D Spanish SME that has improved the current exoskeletons available on the market through the development of the exoskeleton HUMEXE. This new exoskeleton follows an entirely different approach for the movements control strategy. HUMEXE, as contrast to the rest of exoskeletons, bases the movement control of the lower limbs on the movement of the upper limbs of the individual, thus providing the user the full control of his movements, instead of being a control unit in control of the movements and their trajectories.
This new approach allows the user to control the lower limbs’ movements without the aid of crutches or the supervision of another person, and these movements will be performed more accurately than competitors,’ thanks to the increase of freedom degrees of the exoskeleton (13, in contrast of a maximum of 10 and an average of 4 in other competitors). Besides dramatically reduces the computing requirements of the control unit, resulting in a simpler device, fail-safer and cheaper, easing the access to the exoskeleton to the general public.
In addition, to improve the usability and effectiveness of HUMEXE, Tecnimusa has developed a comprehensive learning protocol, which is a guide structured in different steps that support patients in acclimatising to the process of walking with the exoskeleton, and a learning vehicle that has been designed to support patients while they become familiar with the exoskeleton and prevent them from falling.
Since the beginning of the project, a total of 9 patients participated in two distinct rounds of clinical trials, providing invaluable insights into the effectiveness of our learning protocol and the HUMEXE exoskeleton. Throughout these trials, the results were very promising. Patients demonstrated significant progress in their ability to use the HUMEXE exoskeleton, with many showing substantial improvements in mobility and autonomy.
Finally, efforts have been made to approach HUMEXE to the market, such as steps to protect intellectual property, the development of an Investors Ready Business Plan and progress on CE marking of the device.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

From the beginning of the project until its end, key actions have been carried out in the development of HUMEXE, resulting in different outcomes and key milestones. This is an overview of the work, the results and the efforts in exploitation and dissemination of these findings:
- The core of the project was the design and development of the HUMEXE exoskeleton. This process involved extensive research and engineering work to create a device that is both highly functional and easy to use, and that meets the needs of people with mobility problems.
- A learning vehicle was developed to facilitate users' adaptation to the HUMEXE exoskeleton. This vehicle was designed to provide support and stability, ensuring a safe and effective learning environment for users.
- A detailed learning protocol was created to guide users in the use of HUMEXE, which included a series of graded steps and exercises designed to improve users' comfort and ability with the exoskeleton.
- To test and validate the efficiency of HUMEXE, two rounds of clinical trials involving 9 paraplegic patients were conducted. These trials provided essential data on device performance and user experience, which served as a basis for further improvements.
- A solid business plan was prepared to attract investors and secure funding. It outlined the project's financial projections, market strategies and potential return on investment, positioning HUMEXE as an attractive opportunity for investors.
- Preparatory steps were taken to obtain CE marking for both the exoskeleton and the learning vehicle.
- A detailed marketing strategy was developed to effectively introduce HUMEXE to the market.
Finally, regarding exploitation and dissemination of the results:
- Steps have been taken towards market introduction of HUMEXE, including establishing partnerships for manufacturing and distribution.
- Project results were disseminated through presentations at conferences, workshops and meetings with potential stakeholders, reaching a wide audience.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

HUMEXE offers paraplegia patients a level of autonomy not achieved so far and aims to democratize the use of exoskeletons by reducing its cost to a level affordable by private costumers.
The level of mobility gained by paraplegia patients is absolute; the social impact of HUMEXE is great, as these patients by using HUMEXE patients become completely independent, reducing to the minimum the requirements of caregivers. The job insertion of the patients is easier, as the barriers existing for disabled people on a wheelchair are overcome with the exoskeleton (architectural barriers, but also barriers of the activity required at a job position not suitable to be carried out on a wheelchair). Self-esteem of patients increases enormously when recovering their independence.
Patients also see their general health condition improved because of the increase in their physical activity with HUMEXE, which prevents them of secondary diseases associated to the lack of activity of the lower limbs. This has also an impact on the reduction of the costs associated to the treatment of paraplegia.
HUMEXE proposes to change the paradigm on the design of exoskeletons by reducing to the minimum the robotics and computing requirements involved in the exoskeleton operation.

PROTOTYPE OF HUMEXE