{"id":17708,"date":"2019-10-18T17:48:42","date_gmt":"2019-10-18T17:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/?p=17708&post_type=story"},"modified":"2023-08-24T18:56:21","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T18:56:21","slug":"power-move-onyx-exoskeleton","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/power-move-onyx-exoskeleton\/","title":{"rendered":"Power Move"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fall 2019 | By Bree Watson\u00a0\u201904<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Countless examples of exoskeletons exist in the world. Scorpions, snails and lobsters have shells instead of bones. Iron Man<\/em> films and Halo<\/em> video games shine a spotlight on superhuman suits. And then there\u2019s that scene in Aliens<\/em> when Ripley dons a yellow power loader and dukes it out with the xenomorph queen. For Gavin Barnes \u201907 \u201909MS \u201913MBA<\/strong>, lead engineer for Lockheed Martin\u2019s exoskeleton technologies program, exoskeletons are a way to help people perform jobs with improved strength, endurance and safety.<\/p>\n

Barnes\u2019 latest project, Onyx Exoskeleton, is a wearable robot that supports and boosts the energy of its user during physically demanding tasks that require repetitive kneeling, squatting, climbing and carrying heavy loads.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Namesake<\/h2>\n

The name Onyx was chosen by the team that works on the project, many of whom are UCF alumni. \u201cIt was inspired by an amulet that Roman soldiers wore into battle for courage,\u201d says Anthony Mickle \u201998<\/strong>, communications lead at Lockheed Martin. \u201cAnd this is one you wear for endurance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThink of a firefighter running up the stairs of a burning building. A soldier marching up the side of a mountain. Industrial workers who have to squat down and pick up heavy objects,\u201d says Barnes, who majored in mechanical engineering<\/a>. \u201cOnyx takes the burden off [the user\u2019s] knees and the associated muscle groups, so they have more energy to do their job and do it safer because they\u2019re not getting tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how the Onyx Exoskeleton works and what\u2019s in development:<\/h2>\n
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[photo id=”17854″ title=”Onyx-left_450x700″ alt=”The Lockheed Martin Onyx suit with icons of someone climbing, squatting and carrying items.”][\/photo]<\/div>\n
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Predictive AI<\/h3>\n

Sensors at the feet, knees and hips collect data based on\u00a0the user\u2019s movement and send it to the control module on\u00a0the waist. Artificial intelligence within the computer enables\u00a0the device to predict the user\u2019s next movements and react\u00a0accordingly. \u201cOnce [AI] can predict what you\u2019re about to\u00a0do,\u201d Barnes says, \u201cit knows the right amount of torque and\u00a0the timing for it to be applied to the motors at your knees to\u00a0give you that boost of assistance and energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

[divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n

Clear Benefit<\/h3>\n

In a trial run, a user was asked to exercise with a 185-pound\u00a0squat bar, and he completed around 25 squats. The next\u00a0day, the same person was outfitted with an Onyx and asked\u00a0to perform the same exercise. He reached 72 squats before\u00a0being stopped by the team. \u201cThe user was already physically\u00a0capable of holding this weight, but the Onyx helped him go\u00a0that much further,\u201d Barnes says.<\/p>\n

[divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n

Toughen Up<\/h3>\n

Weighing nearly 20 pounds, including its battery, Onyx is\u00a0made of carbon fiber, aluminum, plastic, fabric and a bit\u00a0of titanium. \u201cIt\u2019s not ready for water, sand, dust, shock or\u00a0vibration,\u201d says Barnes. \u201cBut our users will ultimately put it\u00a0through all those paces, so [we\u2019re working on ensuring]\u00a0it can withstand any environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

[divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n

It takes about 150 milliseconds for Onyx to respond to a\u00a0user\u2019s movement, which is similar to the amount of time it\u00a0takes muscles to respond to signals from the brain. The team\u00a0plans to use a technique called electromyography to cut\u00a0that time in half, enabling the exoskeleton to not just predict\u00a0what movements will be based on AI, but to implement the\u00a0next motor command while the user is in motion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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