Rocket powered prosthetic foot to ensure a powerful stride

Most of the existing prosthetics are either too light weight to support the body or too heavy to move around with ease. Addressing the issue, researchers from University of Alabama have come up with a practical ankle prosthesis that makes use of rocket-like propellant for energy and a force plate to assess the kinetics while walking.

Developed in collaboration with Vanderbilt University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, the new prosthetic foot is designed to use monopropellants as a source of energy, for monopropellants just need a bit of catalyst to decompose. While the “sleeve muscle actuator,” which is powered by the monopropellant as well, makes the new prosthetic smaller, lighter and more powerful, if you compare it with an electric motor.

Via: Medgadget

 

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