Overview
As an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, I conducted research in the Neurobionics Lab under the mentorship of Professor Elliott Rouse and Professor Tyler Clites. I initially contributed to the Prosthetic Ankle Stiffness Perception project, which focused on understanding user perceptions of prosthetic ankle stiffness and related biomechanics. Subjects walked on a treadmill while using a robotic prosthetic ankle, with their gait captured by a Vicon motion capture system. My role involved processing the motion capture data, ensuring that all markers were accurately labeled and tracked throughout the experiments.
In addition, I pursued an independent research project where I developed a new subsystem design for the Variable-Stiffness Prosthetic Ankle (VSPA). The existing VSPA used a single CAM profile to dictate the ankle’s angle-stiffness curve, limiting its adaptability in different conditions. My design introduced a mechanism allowing for seamless mid-stride transitions between three distinct CAM profiles, significantly enhancing the ankle’s versatility. I presented my work—including CAD models, technical drawings, and a 3D-printed prototype—at the undergraduate research symposium, where my project laid the foundation for future advancements.