Using robotic assistance to prevent or mitigate back pain - that is the goal of a new European research project whose members include researchers from the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR) of Heidelberg University. Project scientists plan to develop an exoskeleton for the human spine that provides support during heavy physical work. The European Union is funding the project with nearly four million euros. A robotic suit of this type can also be used for rehabilitation. The research team in Heidelberg led by Katja Mombaur will develop a computerised human model depicting all the muscles in order to simulate the lower spine. Their work is being funded in the amount of 680,000 euros. ...
