Introduction to Exoskeleton Design and Evaluation (2025)

Welcome to Introduction to Exoskeleton Design and Evaluation

Description: 

There is an increase in the popularity of exoskeletons worldwide, demonstrating the relevance of creating assistive technologies for daily life, ergonomics, and rehabilitation among others. Moreover, the research field related to exoskeletons has grown in the last decade, increasing the demand for appropriate instruction of graduate students that work on the topic. Therefore, this PhD course targets researchers that either design exoskeletons or test current exoskeleton technologies.

In this PhD course, we will firstly establish the basics on the ergonomic interactions that define the need for mechanical assistance on shoulder, back and lower limbs. The course then evolves to introduce the need for specific exoskeleton design, covering actuation, sensing and control issues. Finally, the course will introduce different techniques for the evaluation of exoskeleton technologies considering human-machine interaction and its challenges/limitations. Hands-on experience on the use of motion capture and surface electromyography (EMG) as tools for evaluation will be proposed. Moreover, we will introduce and practice the use of computational models as an alternative method to evaluate the effectiveness of exoskeleton assistance.

Prerequisites: 

Basic understanding of mechanics, actuation and control is required. A basic background within Anatomy, human biomechanics are desirable. Moreover, basic skills in signal processing using Matlab or Python are also desired. Students will have an opportunity to install and try biomechanical analysis software on their computers. This requires the Windows operating system.

Form of evaluation:

A final assignment consisting of performing data processing using experimental data recorded during the course should be submitted up to 3 weeks after the course. The analysis can be carried using the experimental data, computer simulations or a combination of both. Further instructions will be announced prior to the course start.

Preparatory reading materials will be specified depending on the qualification of the enrolled students, to accommodate all necessary knowledge to attend the course.  

Anderson S. Oliveira, Associate Professor (Aalborg University)

Shaoping Bai, Professor (Aalborg University)

John Rasmussen, Professor (Aalborg University)

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.