Making someone with paraplegia walk again
Project MARCH just released their newest exoskeleton design. This year they get to compete in an obstacle race using their exoskeleton, which combines all innovations from previous teams and contains new technologies. Charlotte Bourdon is this years’ Public Relations Coordinator of the team and tells about her experience with Project MARCH.
What does Project MARCH do?
Project MARCH is one of the Dream Teams working in the Dream Hall, located on the TU Delft campus. Within a Dream Team, students work together in interdisciplinary teams on groundbreaking subjects. Each student team sets their own goals and works full time on a project for a year. Project MARCH designs exoskeletons, a robotic motorized harness which makes it possible for people with paraplegia to stand up and walk again. The personal goals of this years’ team ‘IX’ were clear: combine all technologies from previous teams and innovate even further to create an exoskeleton that is able to perform ten daily life activities in ten minutes.
These specific goals are set because team IX will be participating in the CYBATHLON 2024 in Zürich. This is a competition where teams, making different kinds of assistive technologies, compete against each other in a race to be the best, exchange knowledge and keep pushing the boundaries of the technology. Project MARCH competes in the ‘exoskeleton race’ where they will show and test their exoskeleton. The race consists of ten different every day obstacles, which have to be completed in ten minutes. Think for example of ascending and descending stairs, opening a door, walking on uneven terrain and sitting down.
Why an exoskeleton?
People who are wheelchair bound, because of for example paraplegia, struggle everyday with the consequences of sitting in a wheelchair all day. Some simple everyday tasks are hard or impossible with a wheelchair. Besides, sitting for a long period of time can be a constraint on your body and using a wheelchair can even effects someone’s mental health.
Using an exoskeleton can contribute positively on all levels. An exoskeleton makes it possible to stand up again, it helps with sitting down and going up and down stairs, and making it possible to move more freely. Using an exoskeleton also contributes to the overall health of the user: it strengthens their muscles and bones and improves blood flow and bowel movements. Something you might not think about is that being able to stand on eye level with other people has great emotional value for wheelchair users.
The Design Presentation
On the 7th of March 2024 the ninth Project MARCH team had their Design Presentation, which Charlotte Bourdon got to organise. During this evening the team revealed the design and features of the MARCH IX exoskeleton. “As the Public Relations Coordinator, I organise events such as the Design Presentation, speak to the press and I represent Project MARCH at external events. I was responsible for the event and organised everything around the Design Presentation along with fellow team members. Think for example of the location, the presentation structure and slides, audio and visuals, the logistics, the line-up, clothing, the catering and the drinks afterwards."
The team organised the event to show everything they have worked on so far to their business partners, the press, old team members, friends and family and other people who are involved in the project or interested. She looks back at a successful presentation: “A lot of small tasks needed to be fixed during the week before the presentation, luckily everyone on the team was very motivated and we helped each other a lot. On the day of the presentation, there are always things that happen unexpectedly, but I had already imagined that whatever happens I just had to accept it and improvise. During the rehearsal we had some technical issues, but during the presentation everything went well.”
Next on the agenda is the Exoskeleton Reveal. “After a small break and gathering all the feedback from this event, I will focus on the reveal. During this event we will show the exoskeleton fully functional. The team is already producing the parts of the exoskeleton and we hope te be able to starts training with the pilot for the reveal around May”. The Exoskeleton Reveal will take place on the 22nd of July.
During the design presentation, the team showed the design of their exoskeleton and it’s new functions. Previous teams already made it possible to, for example, walk without crutches and on uneven terrain. Team IX used these innovations and combined them. Integrated depth cameras are now for instance back in the MARCH IX exoskeleton. They scan the environment and identify obstacles, using it to predict a step that is safe to take. Previous teams had already used cameras but this years’ team made the algorithm faster and more efficient. Besides bringing back old technologies, the team innovated even further. A new feature is a passive ankle joint. The joint makes sure the user of the exoskeleton is able to shift its weight from one leg to the other. This movement is important for balanced walking and walking sideways or on a slope. The joint will help walking with more stability.
Joining project MARCH
Charlotte decided to apply for Project MARCH after a friend of her asked to go to the interest drinks. She had already thought about joining a Dream Team, but because her degree (LST) did not match with one of the teams, she did not seriously consider joining one. Project MARCH caught her eye because it is the only human oriented Dream Team and decided to apply. She sees the year as an opportunity to learn more about MedTech because she is motivated to improve people’s lives and is considering to study biomedical engineering or technical medicine when the year is finished. On top of that she learns things, that you normally would not learn during your degree at the TU Delft: “You learn to work independently and as a team while having a lot of different tasks and responsibilities. You are basically running a company while still being a student."
Everyone can join a Dream Team such as Project MARCH, whatever you study (HBO or WO) or where you study. As for Charlotte, even if your degree doesn’t totally match with a Dream Team, there are still roles that you can apply for. Project MARCH is still looking for members for the 10th team, if you are interested in joining, look on their website (www.projectmarch.nl) or send an email to join@projectmarch.nl.