Socio-technical systems design - Exoskeletons

Introduction

            Socio-technical systems design, or STSD, methods consider human social and organizational factors, including the design the technical factors in the design of organizational systems (Baxter & Sommerville, 2010). The word “exoskeleton” originated from a combination of a Greek word meaning “outer, outside, or outer part”, and a Latin word meaning, “bones, boney framework of the body,” (Online Etymology Dictionary, n.d.). Until recently, exoskeletons were only found in nature, in natural external coverings of animals such as beetles and crabs (Ashley, 2017). These external skeletons act as a protective, outer structure, providing a stiff frame their muscles can push against to move their bodies around. Robotic exoskeletons are a newer innovation and a more recent innovation in the medical field.

Scope: 

These exoskeletons are finding their way into everyday life like helping people lift heavy equipment and supporting medical rehabilitation (Zhang, 2021). The Sportsmate 5, created by Hong Kong-based Enhanced Robotics, is one type of exoskeleton that helps strengthen and reinforces the wearer’s leg muscles to assist during exercise or on long hikes (Coxworth, 2021). The Sportsman 5 can also provide resistance to the wearer’s leg muscles to help build strength.

SuitX, a California-based startup company has developed an exoskeleton that actually helps paraplegics walk and become mobile again (Ashley, 2017). Its current model, “Phoenix,” is a motorized, lower body framework that allows people who are severely immobile, ditch their wheelchairs and walk. Steven Sanchez, the Chief Pilot for SuitX, in 2004 was injured in a BMX motor bike accident that left him unable to walk. SuitX is leading the way in providing enhanced mobility to paraplegics everywhere.

Superflex, a Bay Area research and development lab is leading the way in soft exoskeleton technology (Ashley, 2017). These soft exoskeletons are made up of flexible fabric and artificial muscles. Soft exoskeletons are being developed to prevent damage to injury prone areas of the body and prevent fatigue. Currently these exoskeletons are being developed to help senior citizens that have limited mobility issues.

However, along with new innovations come many limitations that at the moment are keeping these exoskeletons from being released for public use such as price, weight, battery power, and the technology still needs refinement. For starters, these exoskeletons cost between $30,000 and $80,000, leaving it out of the price range for most customers (Zhang, 2021). Today, full body exoskeletons are heavy and difficult to maneuver by one’s self. The smaller, limited mobility exoskeletons weigh less and are becoming easier to maneuver.

However, the full body exoskeletons are still experiencing issues with weight to mobility ratio, as well as acquiring a reliable power source. Finding a suitable power source is also a current limitation. Because of the weight limitations for these systems, a durable, light weight, powerful battery, with a long batter life is needed to operate these suits. Current batteries only offer about 3 hours of use before needing to be recharged. Physical power cables are also not ideal for these suits, as mobility is of utmost importance. Also, with current exoskeletons the simple act of stubbing ones toe will send the wearer flying. This, as well as other refinements needs to be made before releasing these suits to the public.

Purpose: 

Exoskeletons are needed in the medical and rehabilitation fields to enhance the mobility of patients requiring very little mobility assistance, to full on paraplegic patients requiring almost full mobility assistance. The technology exists but requires a few more refinements before being released to the public. Safety is the number one concern when already dealing with patients with mobility issues, so these suits need to be made safer to prevent further injury to patents. Mobility needs to be enhanced to provide lighter weight exoskeletons, as well as free from power cords and charging stations. Lastly, the price tag needs to drastically reduce to allow these exoskeletons become a reality to patients who need it the most.

Supporting forces: 

There are a number of supporting forces that are allowing the further advancement of this technology. First, the developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are helping to pave the way with technologies that support the culmination of new mobility technologies. Second, there are quite a lot of startup companies, as well as older, more established companies that are interested and supporting research and innovation in this particular field of study. Lastly, according to Research, 2021, the global exoskeleton market is expected to grow at a rate of 48.4% in 2019 to $11.4 billion by 2027. The top 10 companies operating in the exoskeleton market are: Lockheed Martin, ReWalk Robotics Ltd., Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc., Parker Hannifin Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, Honda Motor Co. Ltd., suitX, Bionic Laboratories Corporation, Myomo Inc, and Otto Bock HealthCare, (Research, 2021).

Challenging forces: 

As with most artificial intelligence and robotics innovations, safety is a challenging force. Exoskeletons are being created for patients with limited to no mobility, because of this, the safety of the patients’ needs to be flawless. This has always been a complex issue when it comes to AI and robotics. According to current research, safety still needs to be enhanced and improved on these exoskeletons. Also, there needs to be advancement in battery or power packs that are light weight, have a long life span, and are lightweight before these suits can be considered durable and autonomous. Weight and mobility of these suits need to be enhanced and adapted for patients with limited mobility, as well as the development of a lightweight full body exoskeleton.

Methods: 

The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is a structured method used in group brainstorming that encourages contributions from everyone involved and encourages agreement on the importance of issues, problems, and solutions (ASQ Quality Press, n.d.). Team members start by writing down their ideas, and then the group selects which ones they feel are best. I feel exoskeleton research can greatly benefit from the use of NGT to bring together experts in the field to work towards a common goal and outcome. I also believe the exoskeleton field would benefit greatly from the development of a think tank to bring together a team of researchers to work together for an agreed upon outcome.

Models: 

The illustration below shows the six main phases of the NGT technique taken from Baxter, 2015.

Image 1

The benefits of nominal group technique are:

·       To help provide a team environment right for collaboration

·       The approach enables equal participation

·       Helps provide a safe and fair environment for participants

·       Helps bring together diverse experiences and backgrounds

·       The environment helps to provide an efficient and effective approach for prioritizing, generating, and clarifying ideas.

Exoskeletons are being invented for: paraplegics, senior citizens with mobility issues, runners and hikers to provide extra sustenance and endurance, heavy laborers that need extra strength and support, as well as soldiers to provide extra tactical efficiencies. The image below shows exoskeleton suits, taken from (Ashley, 2017).

Image 2

 

Analytical Plan: 

               According to the CDC, an analysis plan helps think through the data that is collected, how it will be used, and how it will be analyzed (CDC, 2013). Creating one of these plans will help the researcher define how the data will be collected and how it will be used. Because exoskeletal suits are new and still a developing innovation, there are a number of ways analyzing these suits. These ways should include:

·       Research innovations and implications

·       Practical implications

·       Originality and value

·       Safety and added benefits

Anticipated Results: 

The social impacts to this new innovation are tremendous. SuitX wants to make their robotic exoskeletal suit so cheap, durable, practical, and safe that one day wheelchairs will become obsolete (Puiu, 2016). If this becomes a reality, human mobility issues will become a thing of the past. Paraplegics will become fully mobile again, senior citizens will be able to move around without the help of others, hikers and runner will be able to go further and longer with less stress on their joints, physical laborers will be able to lift heavier loads and not risk physical injury, and soldiers will have a more competitive advantage over their enemies.

Conclusion: 

The exoskeleton suit will completely reinvent how the mobility impaired population lives their life. This single innovation helps transform a life of partial to full immobility patients to a more independent, impactful life. This will make living a more purposeful life no longer a dream, but a reality for the immobile population. Few inventions offer such life changing results for its entire affected population.

Areas of Future Research: 

There are many new startup companies, as well as older, more established companies all individually working on different type of exoskeleton suits with different purposes. This is dividing the research, innovations, engineers, etc. when more can be achieved if they would work together towards a common goal. By combining these resources, more advancement and innovation could be achieved.

References

         Ashley, S. (2017, May 30). Robotic exoskeletons are changing lives in surprising ways. NBCNews.com. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/innovation/robotic-exoskeletons-are-changing-lives-surprising-ways-n722676.

         ASQ Quality Press. (n.d.). What is nominal group technique? ASQ. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://asq.org/quality-resources/nominal-group-technique#:~:text=Nominal%20group%20technique%20(NGT)%20is,idea%20they%20feel%20is%20best.

         Baxter, G., & Sommerville, I. (2010, August 7). Socio-technical systems: From design methods to systems engineering. OUP Academic. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://academic.oup.com/iwc/article/23/1/4/693091.

        Baxter, R. (2015, June 21). Generating value by conducting nominal group technique (NGT). Value Generation Partners Vblog. Retrieved November 21, 2021, from https://vgpblog.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/generating-value-by-conducting-nominal-group-technique-ngt/.

         Coxworth, B. (2021, November 12). Sportsmate 5 exoskeleton helps or hinders your legs, as instructed. New Atlas. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://newatlas.com/robotics/sportsmate-5-exoskeleton/.

         Creating analysis plan. Center for Disease Control (CDC). (2013). Retrieved November 21, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/fetp/training_modules/9/creating-analysis-plan_pw_final_09242013.pdf.

        Exoskeleton (n.). Online Etymology Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/exoskeleton.

         Puiu, T. (2016, February 2). Phoenix exoskeleton wants to make wheelchairs obsolete. ZME Science. Retrieved November 21, 2021, from https://www.zmescience.com/research/technology/phoenix-exoskeleton-0423423/.

        Research, M. (2021, September 29). Top 10 Companies in Exoskeleton Market. Meticulous Blog. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://meticulousblog.org/top-10-companies-in-exoskeletons-market/.

         Zhang, P. (2021, November 6). How robotic exoskeleton technology is helping paralyzed people walk again. South China Morning Post. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3155011/turning-everyone-ironman-how-robotic?module=perpetual_scroll&pgtype=article&campaign=3155011.