Our Mission
The goal of the U-Build Bionic Knee is to be a cost-effective and accessible alternative to passive prosthetics, empowering increased mobility for individuals with above knee amputations. Not only is the U-Build Bionic Knee a rehabilitative device, it can also serve as an educational tool for anyone interested in wearable robotics. As our team continues to improve the device in future versions, we hope that users will learn to make their own adjustments.
Empowering U
The open-source nature of the U-Build Bionic Knee gives an opportunity to people who can't afford a commercial powered prosthetic to make their own. Despite the simplicity of the device, it is capable of much more than most common prostheses. Prosthetics available to most lower limb amputees are passive devices, which can aid in walking and standing but don't output enough power for movements beyond that. Unlike a passive prosthetic, the U-Build Bionic Knee provides power for activities like walking on uneven terrain, moving from sit to stand, and climbing a set of stairs.
Additionally, the U-Build Bionic Knee team hopes that this project empowers students of all backgrounds to delve into the exciting world of engineering and powered prosthetics. We understand that the lack of available information on robotic prosthetics make this field intimidating. That's why we created this website with step-by-step instructions and comprehensive resources to enable you to build your very own powered robotic leg. We hope that by the end of the project, you make improvements and changes to the leg where you see fit.
U-Build it!
At the heart of this project is the belief that prosthetics should be more accessible to all individuals. This project can be created by anyone regardless of prior experience and costs less than $1000 to build. All the tools needed to build your own device are common or easily accessible, no expensive workshop required! Follow along as we walk you through how to build your very own U-Build Bionic Knee!
We have just finished the latest version of this device! Six different test subjects with varying walking patterns have walked on it to test its functionality and adaptability. A high school student and two undergraduate students have used our website tutorial to individually build their own bionic knee, showing that people with varied technical experience can recreate this device. We are currently testing the knee's capabilities for climbing stairs and hope to have it fully functional soon. We are also working on improvements to make the device cheaper and more aesthetically pleasing.
Have questions? We want to help, don't hesitate to reach out!
Our Collaborators
We collaborate with Dr. Tommaso Lenzi and the HGN lab at the University Of Utah
