College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Mechanical Engineering Department
Advisor
Alan Zhang, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department
Funding Source
Cal Poly's College of Engineering Dean's Innovation Fund, Paul & Sandi Bonderson, Kim Vorrath, The Sprague Foundation, and Cal Poly's Academic Affairs Office.
Date
10-2025
Abstract/Summary
Tensegrity structures are composed of stiff rods and elastic cables suspended in a flexible tension network. In particular, the biotensegrity model proposes that all biological systems exhibit tensegrity-like characteristics across multiple scales, ranging from the cellular level to the musculoskeletal system of tendons, ligaments, and fascia, to the human body as a whole. Compared to the traditional biomechanical models used in exoskeleton design, it can be a more accurate representation of how motion emerges from natural forms, but further work is needed to fully understand the heterarchical nature of human anatomy. This project will focus on developing a powered electrical subsystem to integrate with existing wearable tensegrity prototypes. The power requirements of the system will be tuned to match the human user’s inputs, and the performance will be measured through motion capture experiments.
October 1, 2025.
Included in
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/ceng_surp/180