ligaments and muscles aren’t taxed beyond their capability.
provide – constantly monitoring the wearer’s own muscle, cardio and pulmonary activity to keep need and output in sync. LASER-FOCUSED BIOMECHANICAL DESIGN Unlike Ironman’s suit, which covers his entire body and acts as both protector and enabler, Archangel’s system is purely functional – it does not serve as armor. Rather, it is designed to provide the speci fi c type and level of muscular assistance needed where it is needed most – core, legs, arms, back. Speci fi c muscle groups are studied in terms of their contribution to running, balance, upper body fl exibility, etc., generating the real-world data required to move a single individual quickly and for a long time. And each system is custom fi tted to each person based on their unique size, shape, strength, endurance, etc. “We begin by taking a full 3D scan of your body structure and import that into a software program we use to build the system. That program is sent to a 3D printer which can produce it within a day. We’re developing a proprietary polymer that’s actually a composite vs. a metal- or plastics- based substrate. This enables us to make the structure lighter by ‘skeletonizing’ it – putting grooves and holes in places where there’s no structural impact.” Weight is a critical consideration across the entire design, says Pilcher. The heavier it is, the more power it takes to operate, which means the actuators that generate motion at every juncture need to be bigger, the batteries have to be larger, adding more weight. “It can become a vicious circle,” remarks Pilcher, “a tail you’re never going to stop chasing. On the other hand, every ounce we can drive out to the design means a corresponding reduction in power required for essential components, so it works both ways.” It’s electronics, however, that drive the system – a combination of hardware and software that both tracks the body’s output and then delivers the performance called for. Motors – steppers, servos – can be scaled and programmed for speci fi c outputs, recognizing that there is only so much a human body can take. The system can be programmed to set thresholds for outputs – how fast, how far or how long it should strive to achieve – so that joints, tendons,
“We begin with an initial, personalized assessment, and then calibrate each system individually with electromyography (EMG) sensors that measure the small electrical signals generated by your muscles when you move, picking up these signals through the skin. We can tune these motors to those electrical signals so they understand just how much you’re giving and how much more they need to help. It isn’t enough to use size, shape and weight data alone – people with the same basic measurements can vary widely as to how much they can lift, how fast they can run, or how far. For example, I could probably lift more than somebody else my exact same size, run faster and further, perhaps.” The system learns and adjusts its output over time as well. It will know how much assistance is needed at the start and how much to increase that help as the individual tires. It will constantly pick up what the body is outputting and adjust to the threshold set for that individual. It also knows that a 50% assist level at the beginning of a run is different from what is required for a 50% assist at the end of a run. “The actuators are the crucial elements here. Our goal is to create fl exible actuators that literally function just like you took the muscle outside of the body and popped it back on top of the skin. That provides freer, much more natural motions than possible with big, bulky pneumatic cylinders hanging off your waist, arms and legs. They can get tangled up in brush or caught on doorways.” Pilcher points to the fact that our muscles don’t simply hang off the side of us and our limbs, they are integrated within and around our skeleton, powering our movements from within. “Our actuators will get as close as possible to replicating the positioning and placement of our own muscles without penetrating the skin. That’s where the bulk of our research and development is focused today. Actuators and battery technology are front and center right now.”
THE AUBURN NVA FACTOR Pilcher says Auburn University and the New Venture Accelerator play an increasingly important role in her success to date and prospects going forward. She cites building stronger relationships with the military and partnership with world leaders in additive manufacturing – 3D printing – as being particularly important objectives at this stage of the company’s development. “Here at Auburn, we have a wealth of engineering, biomechanics and kinesiology expertise available to draw upon,” says Pilcher. “It really is quite extraordinary. From the research I am involved with at the College of Engineering to the relationships our faculty has established in the additive design and manufacturing space, I couldn’t be better positioned for success here at Auburn.” Pilcher also notes that the New Venture Accelerator has been instrumental in helping her and her team fi nd the experience and support they need from across the university and beyond. “With a mission that encompasses so many technologies in unprecedented ways, fi guring out where to fi nd that expertise is critical. We wouldn’t be as far along as we are today without the counsel and hands-on support available here at the NVA.”
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