The HGN lab has four assigned spaces in the Kennecott Mechanical Engineering Building (MEK): the HGN Main Lab, the HGN Maker Space, the HGN Treadmill Lab, and the Ergonomics and Safety Lab.

HGN Main Lab

The HGN Main Lab is a 1900 sq. ft. space which has an Office Space and an Ambulation Lab Space which can be divided by motorized, retractable, ceiling-mounted room dividers during experiments. The Main Lab has a sink, microwave, toaster oven, refrigerator, and espresso machine.

The Office Space contains large desks for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. All of the desks are adjustable height (motorized standing desks). The desks are on wheels for reconfiguration.

The Ambulation Lab Space contains a custom instrumented staircase with 7 steps, four of which are instrumented force plates, and two instrumented handrails. The instrumented staircase’s four force plates, each measuring 1 foot by 3 feet, can be removed from the stairs and used independently. The ambulation lab also contains a custom ambulation circuit with a 20-foot ramp that can be lowered to be flat (0 degrees) and raised to approximately 15 degrees. The ramp can be raised to be level with the 7^th step of the instrumented staircase, connecting to the stairs, or raised above the staircase to create an 8^th step. The ambulation lab is contained within the capture volume of a 12-camera Vicon motion analysis system with 4 Vicon Vero V2.2 cameras and 10 Vicon Valkyrie VK16 cameras. The ambulation lab is also equipped with two overhead support systems: a Handicare C625 Power XY overhead lift and a SafeGait Active overhead support with dynamic fall protection.

HGN Maker Space

The HGN Maker Space contains our 3D Printers, including a large-volume 3D printer with automatic multi-material station and Air Manager (Ultimaker S5 Pro) a composite 3D printer (Markforged MarkTwo), a Prusa Original i3 MK3 3D Printer, a Prusa Original XL 3D printer. The Maker Space also contains our sewing machine, soldering station, and bench space for assembly.

HGN Treadmill Lab

The HGN treadmill lab was designed explicitly for treadmill-based motion analysis studies. The treadmill lab contains a Bertec Fully Instrumented Treadmill with instrumented handrails and incline control up to 15 degrees. The treadmill has two side-by-side belts with separate integrated force plates. Two instrumented handrails placed on the sides of the treadmill each record force in three dimensions. Additional removable safety rails can be mounted in front or back of the treadmill. The treadmill is mounted in a pit so that it is level with the floor when it is not inclined. The floor surrounding the treadmill is removable and contains a second level of floor tiles that align with the front of the treadmill when it is fully inclined. A passive overhead support system is aligned over the treadmill for fall prevention. The HGN treadmill lab is equipped with 12 Vicon Vero V2.2 cameras.

Ergonomics and Safety Lab

The Ergonomics and Safety Lab is a shared lab space with Scott Ulrich and Erika Pliner. The lab is equipped for running studies, ladder-related occupational safety studies, and sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit transitions studies. The Ergonomics and Safety Lab contains six in-ground force plates, strategically mounted to capture sit-to-stand and overground walking and are embedded within the floor. A Bertec Fit-5 instrumented incline treadmill is also installed in the space for running studies. The Ergonomics and Safety Lab is equipped with 18 Vicon cameras: 7 Vicon Bonita cameras and 17 Vicon Vero 2.2 cameras. The Ergonomics and Safety Lab is also equipped with various ladders and scaffoldings, a wall-mounted TV, and a clothes washer/dryer.