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.
Lab Projects
Lab Team Fall 2019
Dynamic Joint Alignment Ankle-Foot Prosthesis
Ultrasound Bone Tracking for Prosthetic Socket Fitment
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.
Ultrasound-based Bone Tracking for Sockets
Haptic Mouse
Soft Force Sensing with Magnets
Haptic Interface
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).
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.
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.
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 2021. 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.
