ME PhD student Peter Ferguson and MAE Professor Jacob Rosen, both of the UCLA Bionics Lab, are editors and co-authors of a new book entitled “Wearable Robotics – Systems and Application” published by Academic Press (Elsevier). The book includes 24 chapters, five of which are co-authored by members of the UCLA Bionics Lab also including Yang Shen and Hao Lee. The book is a comprehensive description of the forefront research efforts in the rapidly evolving field of wearable robotics including orthotics systems (exoskeleton) and prosthetics systems for arms, hands, legs, and the full body.
“The project started with our initial attempt to better understand the field of wearable robotics and identify the open research questions following more than two decades of research in this field. Soon we realized that the scope was too large for a review paper and a book co-authored by the researchers, who developed these systems, is a better format to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the field,” recounted Rosen who directs the Bionics Lab. The fascinating synergy between the human body and wearable robots provides new opportunities to recover and rehabilitate lost motor control due to neuromuscular disorders of disabled people or enhance the physical capabilities of healthy individuals.
“As a graduate student entering the field, I am full of appreciation and respect for the sophistication of the human body and the numerous wearable systems that continue to be developed to support and enhance it. Having the chance to interact and work with so many of the engineers, scientists, doctors, and entrepreneurs who have advanced these systems have been a tremendous experience,” added Ferguson.
Image: Peter Ferguson and Jacob Rosen