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The Mechatronics and Robotics Research Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is directed by Professor Frank Sup. We focus on the advancement of physical human-machine interaction. The core of the lab’s research is on human-centered mechatronic design in the development of rehabilitative technologies. The research topics span from wearable robotics such as intelligent prosthetics and exoskeletons, to advanced control structures and methodologies. We strive to expand the boundaries in the research community, while providing a hands-on learning environment in leading-edge science.

We are recruiting participants for our research studies to test a new robotic foot-ankle prosthesis and socket fitment tool. Please contact us if you are interested at sup@umass.edu.

Undergraduate Lab Positions: If interested in volunteering in the lab for research please contact me directly at sup@umass.edu.

Graduate Research Positions: I am looking for new PhD students starting in Fall 2020. Please apply to the UMass Amherst Graduate School.

Research

Lower Limb Prostheses

Improved Musculoskeletal Model in OpenSim of Below-Knee Amputees - Developing new forward dynamics musculoskeletal model in OpenSim in collaboration with Dr. Brian Umberger for simulating amputee gait that accounts for an amputee’s unique anatomy.
Lower Limb Prostheses with Dynamic Joint Alignment - Dynamic alignment is a new concept that actively realigns the residual limb with the ground reaction force during the stance phase of gait to reduce socket loading.

Sensing Physical Human-Robot Interaction

Soft and Compact Load Cell Design - A new type of load cell is being developed based on the Hall Effect in order to create low-cost and durable load cells for use in robotic and prosthetic applications.
Monitoring Bone Motion within the Socket- With FTL Labs a new enabling technology for socket fitment using ultrasonic bone tracking transceivers. It leverages high-precision line-of-sight ultrasound transceivers and intuitive visualization software.

Embedded Systems

UMass RaspberryPIC goPack - is an open-source prototyping platform for wearable robotics and embedded systems. It uses a custom add-on board for the Raspberry Pi to handle multiple sensors and actuators with high timing precision and wirelessly stream data back to a host PC running Simulink.

Interactive Robots

UMass ExBow- is an open-source prototyping platform for wearable robotics and embedded systems.It is intended to be an educational tool for secondary schools to get students interested in STEM.
MR-Compatiable Knee and Leg Extension Ergometer - New insights on the muscle and tissue during dynamic loading and activation of the limbs during and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS).
Understanding Human Intent through Physical Interaction - to enable a robot to actively collaborate with a person to move an object in an efficient and smooth manner.
A Physically Interactive Surface Robot - to create new low-cost, interactive robots for physically immersing the user in a virtual world.

Links to Our Past Research Projects

People

MRRL Lab Photo – Fall 2017

Lab Director

Professor Frank C. Sup IV
Associate Professor

sup [at] umass [dot] edu

Google Scholar – ResearchGate – LinkedIn – Twitter

 

Graduate Researchers

Julio Aparico
PhD Candidate - Soft Sensors
Ericber Francisco Jimenez
PhD Candidate - Smart Knee Brace
Vinh Nguyen
PhD Candidate - Simulation and Modeling of Gait
Mark Price
PhD Candidate - Optimizing Prosthetic Design
Soumitra Sitole
PhD Candidate - Capturing Prosthetic Alignment

Graduate Alumni

Soumitra Sitole – 2018 MS – PhD in the MRRL

Punith Lakshmi – 2017 MS – Integrated Construction – Robotics Division

Youssef Jaber – 2017 MS – Ingersoll Rand

Dr. Abhijit Kadrolkar – 2016 PhD – Medtronic

Dr. Andrew LaPre – 2012 MS / 2016 PhD – FTL Labs Corp

Mark Price – 2016 MS – PhD in the MRRL

Vinh Nguyen – 2016 MS – PhD in the MRRL

Qiandong Nie – 2016 MS – MS in CS @ LSU

Matthew Ryder – 2015 MS – Sensata Technologies

Jonathan Cummings -2014 MS – MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Airton da Silva – 2014 MS – Avitas Systems

Haohan Zhang – 2014 MS – PhD, Columbia University – ROAR Lab

Zhe Zhang – 2013 MS – China Mobile Group Design and Consulting Company

Post-Docs and Visitor Scholars

Dr. Yali Han – 2018 Visiting Faculty – Associate Professor at Nanjing Institute of Technology

Dr. Ulvi Baspinar – 2015-16 Post-Doc – Assistant Professor at Marama University, Turkey

Dr. Lieselle Trinidad – 2015 & 2016 Visiting Faculty – Assistant Professor at SUNY Buffalo

Undergraduate Honors Alumni

Ian McGinty – 2018 – Secret Startup

Jacqueline Lagasse – 2018 – MS, UMass-Amherst

Steven Luk – 2018 – MS, Columbia University

John Melloni – 2018 – MS, Stanford University

Brian Jin – 2016 – MS, Columbia University – ROAM Lab

Carmine (CJ) Taglienti – 2016 – MS, UMass-Amherst

Caitlin McLain – 2015 – Apple

Devin Carroll – 2015 – PhD, U. of Pennsylvania

Liam Kelly – 2014 – Bose Corporation

Neil Mahesh Bajaj – 2014 – PhD, Yale University – GRAB Lab

Natalie Zucker – 2013 – Bose Corporation

Andrew Erwin – 2012 – PhD, Rice University – MAHI Lab

Amanda Willis – 2012 – Raytheon

Steve McKinley – 2011 – PhD, U. of California Berkley

 Independent Studies and Volunteers 

Christoph Nüsslein – 2017 Intern – BS, UMass-Amherst

Jade Saint-Paul – 2017 Volunteer – BS, UMass Amherst

Mandira Marambe – 2017 Intern/I.S. – BS, Smith College

Megan McGahren – 2017 Intern – BS, Smith College

Nicolas Sawyer – 2016-17 I.S. – BS, UMass Amherst

Shannon Fan – 2016-17 Volunteer – BS, UMass Amherst

Karl Schmeckpeper – 2013-15 Lab Assistant – PhD, U. of Pennsylvania – GRASP Lab

Rebecca Schliemann – 2015 Intern – BS, Virginia Tech

Daniel Smoliga – 2015 I.S. – Huber+Suhner Astrolab

Yoshiaki Uwamino – 2015 Graduate Visitor – MS, Hokkaido University, Japan

Volker Boss – 2013 I.S.

Jacob Miller-Mack – 2013 I.S. – Pika Energy

Catherine Paquin – 2013 I.S. – Terumo Heart

Contact

Lab Director:

Frank C. Sup IV
sup [at] umass.edu

Campus Location: 15D Gunness Lab
Phone: 413-545-2946

Mailing Address:
Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
160 Governors Drive
Amherst, MA 01003