The MOTU++ project is a follow-up of the MOTU project, promoted by the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL). The partners of the project are The BioRobotics Institute of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, University of Bologna, Polytechnic University of Milan, Fondazione Don Gnocchi and INAIL Prosthesis Center.
The aim of the project is the development of a new generation of lower-limb prostheses for people with a lower extremity amputation. The daily life of an amputee is challenged by slow walking, stairs and ramps negotiation, discomfort of the socket, and high cognitive burden to accomplish simple locomotion tasks. The new generation of prostheses will accommodate the motor needs of each amputee by optimizing the energetic and cognitive efficiency, as well as the comfort of the device.

The objectives of the MOTU++ project will be pursued starting from the technologies developed in the MOTU project, to obtain a robotic prosthesis integrating different modules: a mechatronic device with robotic joints of knee and ankle, algorithms for the detection and mitigation of fall risk, a smart socket equipped with a sensory apparatus for the detection of biosignals (EMG), a vibrotactile feedback system, and pressure sensors. The MOTU++ project will produce new scientific knowledge about bioengineering, biomechanics and biorobotics.

PROMOTER: INAIL
GRANT NO.: PR19-PAI-P2
PERIOD: 2021-2024 (36 months)
FUNDING: 1.75 M€
COORDINATORS: Prof. Nicola Vitiello, Dr. Simona Crea, Prof. Christian Cipriani, Prof. Arianna Menciassi, Prof. Silvestro Micera, Prof. Calogero Maria Oddo, Dr. Vito Monaco, Dr. Alberto Mazzoni, Prof. Lorenzo Chiari, Prof. Raffaele Molino Lova, Prof. Giuseppe Andreoni, Eng. Emanuele Gruppioni