FORT DETRICK, Md. – U.S. Army researchers are approaching industry to find companies able to design a powered robotic exoskeleton for the knees of warfighters to enhance performance and speed recovery from knee injuries.
Officials of the Army Medical Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) at Fort Detrick, Md., issued a request for information (W81XWH-22-S-0002) on Friday for the Powered Knee Exoskeleton project.
The USARIEM is the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) primary laboratory for warfighter health and performance research, and focuses on environmental medicine, physiology, physical, cognitive performance, and nutrition research.
USARIEM is looking for companies able to provide or build an exoskeleton that is powered at the knee joint to provide kinetic assistance in the knee's movement; it would be similar to an anterior cruciate ligament repair knee brace.
Exoskeletons are externally worn devices that can help the speed, efficiency, and strength of the people who wear them. Exoskeletons can help warfighters carry heavy loads for long distances, maneuver quickly on foot, and boost their endurance in difficult conditions.
The exoskeleton's size should allow for placement of inertial measurement units on the upper and lower leg without contact with the exoskeleton. This request for information is not yet a solicitation or request for competitive proposals.
Related: Army eyes exoskeleton technology to reduce wear and tear on soldiers from wearing helmets
Companies interested should email short summaries no longer than five pages by 13 May 2022 to the Army's Jennifer Bassett at [email protected], or Jessica Greene at [email protected].
For questions or concerns, contact Jennifer Bassett by email at [email protected], or by phone at 717-413-9210, or Jessica Greene by email at [email protected], or by phone at 301-619-7433.
More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/f39ac1d7bb9c4e58a7e672c0507b9876/view.
