Artificial Intelligence Strategy May Promise More Widespread Use of Portable, Robotic Exoskeletons on Earth and in … – ERAU News
Safer, more efficient movements for factory workers and astronauts, and improved mobility for people with disabilities could someday become a more widespread reality, thanks to new research published June 12 in the journal Nature.
Called exoskeletons, wearable robotic frameworks for the human body promise easier movement, but technological hurdles have limited their broader application, explained Dr. Shuzhen Luo of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University first author of the Nature paper, with corresponding author Dr. Hao Su of North Carolina State University (NC State) and other colleagues.
To date, exoskeletons must be pre-programmed for specific activities and individuals, based on lengthy, costly, labor-intensive tests with human subjects, Luo noted.
Dr. Shuzhen Luo (Photo: Embry-Riddle/ Daryl Labello)Now, researchers have described a super smart or learned controller that leverages data-intensive artificial intelligence (AI) and computer simulations to train portable, robotic exoskeletons.
This new controller provides smooth, continuous torque assistance for walking, running or climbing stairs without the need for any human-involved testing, Luo reported. With only one run on a graphics processing unit, we can train a control law or `policy, in simulation, so that the controller can effectively assist all three activities and various individuals.
Driven by three interconnected, multi-layered neural networks, the controller learns as it goes evolving through millions of epochs of musculoskeletal simulation to improve human mobility, explained Dr. Luo, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering at Embry-Riddles Daytona Beach, Florida, campus.
The experiment-free, learning-in-simulation framework, deployed on a custom hip exoskeleton, generated what appears to be the highest metabolic rate reductions of portable hip exoskeletons to date with an average of 24.3%, 13.1% and 15.4% reduced energy expenditure by wearers, for walking, running and stair-climbing, respectively.
These energy reduction rates were calculated by comparing the performance of human subjects both with and without the robotic exoskeleton, Su of NC State explained. That means its a true measure of how much energy the exoskeleton is saving, said Su, associate professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. This work is essentially making science fiction reality allowing people to burn less energy while conducting a variety of tasks.
The approach is believed to be the first to demonstrate the feasibility of developing controllers, in simulation, that bridge the so-called simulation-to-reality, or sim2real gap, while significantly improving human performance.
Previous achievements in reinforcement learning have tended to focus primarily on simulation and board games, Luo said, whereas we proposed a new method namely, a dynamic-aware, data-driven reinforcement learningway to train and control wearable robots to directly benefit humans.
The framework may offer a generalizable and scalable strategy for the rapid, widespread deployment of a variety of assistive robots for both able-bodied and mobility-impaired individuals, added Su.
As noted, exoskeletons have traditionally required handcrafted control laws based on time-consuming human tests to handle each activity and account for differences in individual gaits, researchers explained in Nature. A learning-in-simulation approach suggested a possible solution to those obstacles.
The resulting dynamics-aware, data-driven reinforcement learning approach dramatically expedites the development of exoskeletons for real-world adoption, Luo said. The closed-loop simulation incorporates both exoskeleton controller and physics models of musculoskeletal dynamics, human-robot interaction and muscle reactions to generate efficient and realistic data. In this way, a control policy can evolve or learn in simulation.
Our method provides a foundation for turnkey solutions in controller development for wearable robots, Luo said.
Future research will focus on unique gaits, for walking, running or stair climbing, to help people who have disabilities such as stroke, osteoarthritis and cerebral palsy, as well as those with amputations.
Contributors: The Nature paper was authored by Shuzhen Luo of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, with Menghan Jiang, Sainan Zhang, Junxi Zhu, Shuangyue Yu, Israel Dominguez Silva and Tian Wang of North Carolina State University; and corresponding author Hao Su of North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Elliott Rouse of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Bolei Zhou of the University of California, Los Angeles; Hyunwoo Yuk of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; and Xianlian Zhou of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Yufeng Kevin Chen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology provided constructive feedback in support of the paper, Experiment-free exoskeleton assistance via learning in simulation.
Funding Disclosures: The research was supported in part by a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award (CMMI 1944655); the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (DRRP 90DPGE0019); a Switzer Research Distinguished Fellow (SFGE22000372); the NSF Future of Work (2026622); and the National Institutes of Health (1R01EB035404).
In keeping with Natures publication policies, any potential competing interests were disclosed in the paper. Su and Luo, a former postdoctoral researcher at NC State who is now on the faculty at Embry-Riddle, are co-inventors on intellectual property related to the controller described here.
Nature, June 12, D.O.I.: 10.1038/s41.586-024-07382-4. After the journals embargo lifts on June 12 at 11 a.m. ET, the paper will be online at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07382-4.
Posted In: Engineering | Research
Originally posted here:
Artificial Intelligence Strategy May Promise More Widespread Use of Portable, Robotic Exoskeletons on Earth and in ... - ERAU News
- Chinas drive toward self-reliance in artificial intelligence: from chips to large language models - Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Analysis | Trumps Artificial Intelligence Action Plan is already stirring debate - The Washington Post - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence Influence in Ophthalmology Industry Projected to Create a Billion Dollar Revenue Opportunity - Yahoo Finance - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Biogen expanding to keep pace with modernization, artificial intelligence - The Center Square - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- 2 Top Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy on the Dip - The Motley Fool - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence: Regulatory Vets Using An App To Help Improve Horse Welfare Worldwide - Paulick Report - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Beauty and Cosmetics Market: A Guide to Understanding the Process - openPR.com - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Prediction: This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Could Hit a $2 Trillion Valuation by July 31 - The Motley Fool - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Could This Monster Nvidia-Backed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center Stock Be the Best Bargain in the Market Right Now? - Yahoo Finance - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Are We Creating Our Own Obsolescence? The Human Cost Of Artificial Intelligence - The Friday Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery Market Generated - openPR.com - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Could This Monster Nvidia-Backed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center Stock Be the Best Bargain in the Market Right Now? - The Motley Fool - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- 3 Scorching-Hot Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks Primed for a Stock Split -- One of Which Is a Familiar Face (No, Not Nvidia or Palantir!) - The... - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- The Smartest Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy With $1,000 Right Now - The Motley Fool - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Decentralized Artificial Intelligence Cypherpunk Revolution of Lightchain AI - Bitcoin.com News - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Why Is Wall Street Obsessed With AI (Artificial Intelligence) Leader Nvidia? - The Motley Fool - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- You can make really good stuff fast: new AI tools a gamechanger for film-makers | Artificial intelligence (AI) - The Guardian - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | Dictionaries Are Better Than Artificial Intelligence - The New York Times - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- The energy and artificial intelligence summit brought bold predictions and billions in investments. What happens next? - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence on the battlefield in 2025 - The Jerusalem Post - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Be Too Cheap to Ignore Right Now - MSN - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Infrastructure Stocks Powering the Next Wave of Innovation - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence topic of chamber discussion (VIDEO) - Mid Hudson News - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- CJB Crypto pioneered the use of artificial intelligence - GlobeNewswire - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Could Be Too Cheap to Ignore Right Now - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Infrastructure Stocks Powering the Next Wave of Innovation - Mitrade - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- This Magnificent Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Is Down 50%. Buy the Dip, or Run for the Hills? - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- This Artificial Intelligence Stock Has Beaten the Market in 9 of the Past 10 Years. And It's On Track to Do It Again in 2025. - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 39.1% of Warren Buffett's $291 Billion Portfolio Is Invested in 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks You Can Buy and Hold for the Next Decade - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Nvidia Just Topped a $4 Trillion Market Cap, but a Different Artificial Intelligence (AI) Giant Is Headed to $4.5 Trillion, According to a Certain... - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 3 No-Brainer Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy With $300 Right Now - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Could This Under-the-Radar Artificial Intelligence (AI) Defense Company Be the Next Palantir? - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Worldwide, it's an artificial intelligence-powered way to browse the web - Business Standard - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 3 Words That Could Be a Big Problem for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbots - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Got $3,000? 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term - Yahoo Finance - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 1 No-Brainer Artificial Intelligence Index Fund to Buy Right Now for Less Than $1,000 - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- After Plummeting Over $1 Trillion in Value, This Super Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Is Mounting a Major Comeback, With Analysts Predicting Gains... - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Amazon Hits an Artificial Intelligence Milestone. And It Could Signify Huge Profit Growth Ahead. - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Artificial Intelligence, real emotions AI is more emotionally intelligent than humans, new study finds - Tom's Guide - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock That Wall Street Thinks Will Soar 64% Higher Over the Next 12 Months (Hint: It's Not Nvidia or Palantir) - Yahoo... - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock to Buy Before It Jumps 37%, According to a Wall Street Analyst - The Motley Fool - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks the U.S. Government Wants to Support - The Motley Fool - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Virginia Governor Boosts Artificial Intelligence to Fill Jobs, Cut Regulations - Inside Climate News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Has Quietly Outperformed Nvidia All Year - Yahoo Finance - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Teachers gather to talk artificial intelligence in the classroom - WHNT.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy Before They Surge to $3 Trillion, According to Select Wall Street Analysts - Yahoo Finance - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Commercialization of medical artificial intelligence technologies: challenges and opportunities - Nature - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Has Quietly Outperformed Nvidia All Year - Nasdaq - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Pondering the good and bad of artificial intelligence - Farm and Dairy - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Prediction: This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Will Be Worth $1 Trillion in 5 Years - The Motley Fool - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- AI is everywhere: UGAs Institute for Artificial Intelligence - The Red & Black - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- 1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock That Wall Street Thinks Will Soar 64% Higher Over the Next 12 Months (Hint: It's Not Nvidia or Palantir) - The... - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- The Geopolitics of Code: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of American Soft Power - The National Interest - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Trades at Just 22 Times Earnings -- and It's Growing Fast - The Motley Fool - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Americans May Have To Pay Much More For Electricity. Reason: Artificial Intelligence - thedailyjagran.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Navigating artificial intelligence in the classroom with Marc Watkins - WLOX - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Teachers gather to talk artificial intelligence in the classroom - Yahoo - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Exploring the rise of artificial intelligence company OpenAI - CBS News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- AI isnt just for coders: 7 emerging non-tech career paths in artificial intelligence - Times of India - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- New school policy to address use of artificial intelligence - Coast Star - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Context-Aware Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Artificial Intelligence in Urology - Cureus - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Has Outperformed Palantir in 2025. Is It Still a Buy? - The Motley Fool - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Three companies to develop artificial intelligence (AI) for military command and control and decision-making - Military Aerospace - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- The Rise of AI: How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping Our Lives and Jobs - Vocal - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Is Microsoft the Top Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock to Buy Right Now? - The Motley Fool - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Has Outperformed Palantir in 2025. Is It Still a Buy? - AOL.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Enabling customers to deliver production-ready AI agents at scale | Artificial Intelligence - Amazon.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence cannot replace helpfulness of gate attendants in The Villages - Villages-News.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks That Are Cheaper Than You'd Expect - The Motley Fool - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion: How to handle artificial intelligence in the classroom - STLtoday.com - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- The Most Feared NFL Players of All Time According to Artificial Intelligence - Al Bat - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- 3 Artificial Intelligence Stocks You Can Buy for Less Than $100 Right Now - The Motley Fool - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- AIs new wave: How artificial intelligence is reshaping business and life as we know it - Maui Now - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Google to invest billions for hydroelectric energy and artificial intelligence in Pa. - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Steve Jobs was right: he had already envisioned artificial intelligence 40 years ahead of everyone else - 3DVF - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- From innovation to exposure: artificial intelligence risks for legal professionals - Reuters - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- How artificial intelligence is transforming the way people use the internet - KUOW - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- How artificial intelligence is transforming the way people use the internet - Iowa Public Radio - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Artificial intelligence for diagnosing rare bone diseases: a global survey of healthcare professionals - Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]