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AT-A-GLANCE PDF

Mac Camardo

PhD Student
University of Illinois Chicago & Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, IL, United States

I am Mac Camardo, a biomedical engineer and PhD student at the University of Illinois Chicago, working at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in the Robotics Lab. My research focuses on designing LegExoNET, a passive lower-limb exoskeleton aimed at improving gait rehabilitation and motor learning for stroke survivors and individuals with neurological impairments. Unlike many existing devices that only assist movement, the LegExoNET may be configured to provide both assistance and anti-assistance, encouraging the user’s body to adapt and correct their gait patterns. My goal is to develop an affordable, lightweight, and adaptable exoskeleton that can be used both in clinical rehab settings and at home. Right now, a big part of my work is fine-tuning optimization algorithms and simulations to figure out the best way to deliver assistance and error augmentation through a system of elastic elements.

Before starting my PhD, I earned both my Master’s in Biomedical Engineering and Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. During my time at CWRU, I worked at the APT Center at the VA in Cleveland, where I focused on wearable rehabilitation technology. One of my biggest projects there was developing an IMU-based algorithm that controlled electrical stimulation in a lower-limb exoskeleton. I also spent a lot of time designing and machining exoskeleton components, optimizing how these devices fit and function for users.

Presentation(s):