Design and implementation of a low-cost advanced orthotic biosuit

Abstract

The new technological revolution emerged around 2011, bringing a new wave of technological advancements across broad fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage, and quantum computing, to name a few. This industrial revolution also brought important changes to the field of medicine. Specifically, the objective of this work is to develop a preliminary prototype of a low-cost orthotic biosuit. To this end, an initial analysis is carried out during the development of the orthosis structure; this structure is focused on patients with acute traumatic injuries, chronic conditions, or those requiring joint support. This work aims to provide neurorehabilitation that improves these conditions. Science indicates that biomimicry imitates the patterns and strategies of nature; based on this, the goal was to create a tool capable of emulating the movement patterns of a gait. This work is based on advances in sensor technology, which enable robots to understand better and respond to their environment and perform a wider variety of tasks. Among the key results of this work was the finding that, compared to commercial exoskeletons and systems reported in the literature, the T.O.A. (advanced orthotic suit) prototype offers an affordable, modular solution, with a focus on integrating inexpensive materials and open technology. While its torque and precision are lower than those of advanced industrial devices, it meets the basic requirements for functional rehabilitation. Tests showed that latency and precision are within acceptable ranges for this type of application, positioning the T.O.A. as a viable alternative for budget-constrained environments.