Funding – HGN Lab for Bionic Engineering

Active Projects

DOD PRORP CTRA HT9425-24-1-0811 Role: Principal Investigator08/01/2024-07/30/2028 – Total Cost: $1.5M ($1.5M Lenzi share)“High-Performance Powered Ankle/Foot Prosthesis for Below-Knee Amputees”The objective of this proposal is to develop and validate a new high-performance powered ankle/foot prosthesis designed to enhance whole-body performance and reduce physical pain in individuals with below-knee amputation.

R01: Lightweight Powered Prosthesis for Above-knee Amputees
R01HD098154 – T. Lenzi (PI)
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
05/01/2025-04/30/2030 – $3.21M total costs ($3.21M Lenzi share)
Description: The primary goal of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a lightweight powered knee in conjunction with various ankle prosthesis technologies and volitional controllers. Specific Aims/Tasks: 1) Assess how different ankle technologies affect mobility when combined with a lightweight powered knee. 2) Determine how volitional control affects performance with powered knee and ankle prostheses. 3): Assess mobility in complex home and community environments.

CAREER: Bio-inspired Multi-joint Design and Control for Efficient and Lightweight Wearable Robots

Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award (FRR-2046287), T. Lenzi (PI)
National Science Foundation (NSF) – Foundational Research in Robotics
05/20/2021 – 02/28/2027 – $586,000 ($586,000 Lenzi share)
Description: The major goal of this project is to lay the theoretical foundations for the development of bioinspired actuation systems using compliant multi-joint actuation systems.

Lightweight Powered Knee-Ankle Prosthesis for Community Ambulation
W81XWH2110037 – T. Lenzi (PI)
Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP-DMDRP-JC8- RESTORE)
04/01/2021-03/31/2025 – $1,498,000 ($1,498,000 Lenzi share)
Description: The objective of this project is to provide the first demonstration of a powered knee-ankle prosthesis at home and in the community. To this end, we will develop a new version of our powered knee-ankle prosthesis that satisfies ISO standards for structural testing, select the optimal prosthesis configuration through preclinical, laboratory testing with individuals with above-knee amputation and conduct a pilot clinical trial with three individuals with an above-knee amputation using our lightweight powered leg at home.

Development of a Active Knee Prosthetics
Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA – T. Lenzi (PI)
05/01/2025 – 06/30/2026
Description: The major goal of this project is to develop an active knee prosthesis that satisfies the requirements for commercialization.

Development of Active Orthotics
Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA – T. Lenzi (PI)
05/01/2025 – 06/30/2026
Description: The major goal of this project is to develop active orthoses that satisfies the requirements for commercialization

Motorized Hip Orthosis for Individuals with Transfemoral Amputations
W81XWH-22-1-1028 – T. Lenzi (PI)
Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP-PRORP-CTRA)
09/01/2022-09/14/2026 $1,499,000 ($1,499,000 Lenzi share)
Description: The goal of this project is to develop and test a motorized hip orthosis for use by individuals with transfemoral amputation during challenging locomotor tasks.

Magnetic Cogging Parallel-elastic Actuators for Energy-efficient Robotic Legs
FRR 2147765 J. Abbott (PI), T. Lenzi (co-PI), S. Roundy (co-PI)
National Science Foundation (NSF) – Foundational Research in Robotics
01/01/2023 – 12/31/2026 – $754,000 ($250,000 Lenzi share)
Description: The major goal of this project is to develop a new actuator for human-friendly robots combining the strengths of programmable magnetic springs and electrical motors. The proposed magnetic actuator will be demonstrated on a robotic ankle/foot prosthesis for individuals with below-knee amputation

NIOSH Education and Research Center

NIOSH T42/CCT810426 – T. Lenzi (co-PI)

07/01/2023-06/30/2028 – $9M ($1.75M Lenzi share)

Description: The goal of the NIOSH-sponsored Education and Research Center is to provide interdisciplinary training that meets the need for comprehensive occupational and environmental safety and health programs in the West

Completed Projects

Motorized Hip Orthoses to Improve the Gait Ability of Transfemoral Amputees
W81XWH-16-1-0701 – T. Lenzi (PI)
Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP-PRORP-ARA)
9/30/2017 – 6/30/2022- $983,000
Description: The major goal of this project is to optimize the control of a novel lightweight motorized hip orthosis and to determine its efficacy in improving the walking ability of individuals with transfemoral amputation who use passive prostheses.

NRI: INT: COLLAB: Muscle Ultrasound Sensing for Intuitive Control of Robotic Leg Prostheses
National Robotics Initiative – CMMI-1925371 – T. Lenzi (PI)
National Science Foundation (NSF) – Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI)
09/1/2019 – 08/31/2023 – $600,000
The major goal of this project is to develop new control strategies for powered knee and ankle prostheses that optimally integrate ultrasound sensing from the residual limb of the user with the mechanical sensors embedded in the prosthesis.