Draft:Open-Source Leg
Submission declined on 2 May 2025 by Rusalkii (talk).
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
| ![]() |
Developer(s) | Neurobionics Lab (University of Michigan) |
---|---|
Initial release | 2017 |
Repository | github |
Operating system | Linux, ROS 2 |
License | GPLv3 |
Website | opensourceleg |
The Open-Source Leg (OSL) is an open-source robotic prosthetic platform designed to accelerate innovation in prosthetics, rehabilitation robotics, and biomechanics. Developed collaboratively by researchers, engineers, and a global community, the OSL provides freely accessible hardware designs, control software, and documentation to democratize access to advanced prosthetic research tools. Hosted by the Neurobionics Lab at the University of Michigan, the project emphasizes reproducibility, affordability, and shared stewardship.
Background
[edit]The OSL emerged in 2017 under funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to address fragmentation in prosthetic research, where labs historically developed isolated, incompatible systems. By open-sourcing its design from inception, the project aims to standardize research, lower barriers for institutions with limited resources, and foster collaboration through shared improvements in hardware and software. Key partnerships, including collaboration with Humotech, a robotics interface company, have expanded the OSL’s reach.[1]
Features and Applications
[edit]The OSL is designed for modularity and adaptability. Its hardware leverages off-the-shelf components, such as drone motors, to ensure cost efficiency, while its software ecosystem, built on an open-source Python/C codebase, supports real-time control, machine learning integration, and gait analysis.[2] Safety is prioritized through peer-reviewed workflows and automated testing for reliable human interaction.
Applications include:
Development of AI-driven prosthetic control strategies for uneven terrain.
Biomechanical studies on metabolic efficiency in amputees.
Educational tools for teaching robotics and mechatronics via tutorials and SDKs.[3]
Community and Sustainability
[edit]The OSL emphasizes collaborative stewardship, transforming users into contributors. Documentation includes step-by-step build guides, troubleshooting resources, and safety protocols. Over 30 institutions collaborate on GitHub to improve codebases and mechanical designs.[4] The NSF POSE Program funds infrastructure, automated testing frameworks, and outreach to low-resource regions, ensuring long-term sustainability.[5]
Partnerships and Impact
[edit]The project collaborates with:
Humotech: Provides assembled OSL units and technical support, bridging academic research and commercial applications.
Academic Institutions: Including Imperial College London and the Cleveland VA Medical Center, which use the OSL for gait studies and rehabilitation protocols.
Open-Source Ecosystems: Integration with platforms like ROS 2 enhances interoperability and community-driven development.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Rouse, E.J.; Gregg, R.D. (2021). "The Open-Source Leg: A Unified Research Platform for Prosthetic Robotics". Nature Biomedical Engineering. 5 (10): 1121–1134. doi:10.1038/s41551-021-00779-8.
- ^ "Open-Source Leg Interview Transcript". Open-Source Leg Project. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "Open-Source Leg Official Website". Neurobionics Lab, University of Michigan. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "OSL GitHub Repository". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "NSF Award #1734586". National Science Foundation. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "Case Study: Accessible Prosthetic Leg R&D". Humotech. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
External links
[edit]NSF POSE Program funding details
Humotech collaboration case study
AI-driven control demonstration
- in-depth (not just passing mentions about the subject)
- reliable
- secondary
- independent of the subject
Make sure you add references that meet these criteria before resubmitting. Learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue. If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.