What's better than an artificial nose? Why, an artificial foot, of course! University of Michigan researchers have developed a new prosthetic foot that could one day make it much easier for amputees to walk. Put simply, this new prototype drastically cuts the energy spent per step, as it harnesses the energy exerted when taking a step and enhances the power of ankle push-off. The device is able to capture dissipated energy, and an inbuilt microcontroller tells the foot to return the energy to the system at precisely the right time. Tests have shown that those using this here foot spent just 14 percent more energy to walk than one would spend when walking naturally, which is a rather significant decrease from the 23 percent uptick experienced with conventional prostheses. If you're still baffled, there's a pretty wicked video demonstration waiting for you after the break.
I would love to have something like this. I could walk and dance again after 4 years of not being able to do much of anything AT ALL. heck they can even cut the bad foot off my left leg themselves. I just wanna have fun and be half normal like the rest of you. I want to walk run and dance. I don't get to do either one right now. well ex cept walking with a cane at 38. NOT FUN.
I for One look forward to becoming one of Your Robotic Overlords!
@SOOPERGOOMAN An exoskeleton prosthesis might be a better choice for you, since it's probably much easier (in the long run) to assist your foot with it's normal movements than actually replace it. As important as the full-prosthesis tech development is, I'm amazed that no one is really concentrating on partial-function prosthesis to assist people in your situation. Interesting!
@SOOPERGOOMAN Second that. My uncle is in a wheel chair at under forty because of leg and back problems. Odd thing is, they probably already have the tech to fix him, but the insurance company won't let him go to a hospital outside of the system. Hopefully the robot overlords understand efficiency...........
I didn't see where the device actually helped propel the foot forward. All I saw was the heel device loading up with energy as the foot was stepped on, and then it never fired. Somebody want to explain to me what I'm missing?
@mrHellas At about 18 seconds, you can see the front part of the 'foot' start to angle downwards, relative to the rest of the foot. This simulates what your foot and toes during walking/running and is what keeps you going forward. A passive prosthetic is really just there for support and doesn't provide much forward movement, which causes the other leg to fatigue much faster as more energy is required. This looks like a slick design, hopefully it can be downsized into something more manageable.
@dibs oddjob Oh. I see it now. Thanks a lot for that. I actually understand how it works mechanically now. My problem was that I was so focused on watching the heel, because it compresses at the beginning, but I never thought to actually look at the front most part of the device. I kept expecting the heel to fire. My bad. Anyways, thanks again.
I'm guessing it might also be useful for people who bought the spring shoes from Acme and people like Disco Stew who want to see a return platform shoes. But seriously this is cool.
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posted February 22nd 2010 9:21AM
All I read was 1 step closer to the billion dollar man!(I know it was million but really a million isn't much nowadays...)
@Federaly
We have the technology.
Do you have to wear a huge platform shoe on the other foot? Not one for the fashion concious amputee...
@lookseehear
They used the platform and moon-boot because for some reason the able bodied person testing it objected to having their foot cut off.
Lieutenant Dan!... magic legs!
@CasusUniversum "Custom-made titanium alloy. It's what they use on the space shuttle."
I would love to have something like this. I could walk and dance again after 4 years of not being able to do much of anything AT ALL.
heck they can even cut the bad foot off my left leg themselves. I just wanna have fun and be half normal like the rest of you. I want to walk run and dance. I don't get to do either one right now. well ex cept walking with a cane at 38. NOT FUN.
I for One look forward to becoming one of Your Robotic Overlords!
@SOOPERGOOMAN
An exoskeleton prosthesis might be a better choice for you, since it's probably much easier (in the long run) to assist your foot with it's normal movements than actually replace it. As important as the full-prosthesis tech development is, I'm amazed that no one is really concentrating on partial-function prosthesis to assist people in your situation. Interesting!
@SOOPERGOOMAN Second that. My uncle is in a wheel chair at under forty because of leg and back problems. Odd thing is, they probably already have the tech to fix him, but the insurance company won't let him go to a hospital outside of the system. Hopefully the robot overlords understand efficiency...........
@I was swhite237 I lost my passwo I should clarify, not fix, but make a little better.
Last week, sweet bionic arms. This week, sweet bionic feet.
I'm almost starting to wish I got into some sort of terrible accident that could let me turn into a bionic man.
Almost.
Is it bad that it reminds me of a chainsaw?
technology...one step forward...literally
I didn't see where the device actually helped propel the foot forward. All I saw was the heel device loading up with energy as the foot was stepped on, and then it never fired. Somebody want to explain to me what I'm missing?
@mrHellas
At about 18 seconds, you can see the front part of the 'foot' start to angle downwards, relative to the rest of the foot. This simulates what your foot and toes during walking/running and is what keeps you going forward. A passive prosthetic is really just there for support and doesn't provide much forward movement, which causes the other leg to fatigue much faster as more energy is required. This looks like a slick design, hopefully it can be downsized into something more manageable.
@dibs oddjob Oh. I see it now. Thanks a lot for that. I actually understand how it works mechanically now. My problem was that I was so focused on watching the heel, because it compresses at the beginning, but I never thought to actually look at the front most part of the device. I kept expecting the heel to fire. My bad. Anyways, thanks again.
AWESOME! Completely awesome. And brilliant!
I'm guessing this'll cost an arm and a leg....
@Old fogie late bloomer
... thus keeping it out of reach?
If you look at RoboCop's heels, he has almost the same set-up as this! Kudos to Rob Bottin, that film was way ahead of it's time in so many ways.
I'm guessing it might also be useful for people who bought the spring shoes from Acme and people like Disco Stew who want to see a return platform shoes. But seriously this is cool.