Episode 66: Peter Neuhaus talks about exoskeletons, robotics, and the development of exercise technologies for space and Earth

STEM-Talk

Dawn Kernagis and Ken Ford

Alternative Health, Nutrition, Health & Fitness, Natural Sciences, Science

4.7 • 706 Ratings

🗓️ 19 June 2018

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In today’s episode, Ken and Dawn interview their colleague Dr. Peter Neuhaus, a senior research scientist here at IHMC. Peter is an engineer well-known for his work on wearable robotic devices. In particular, Peter has focused on lower extremity exoskeleton devices and their applications for mobility assistance for paraplegics and other people with disabilities or partial paralysis. In 2016, Peter lead an IHMC team that won a silver medal in the international Cybathlon, a competition conducted in Zurich in which people with disabilities used advanced assistive devices, including robotic technologies, to compete against each other. In today’s interview, Peter talks about IHMC’s humanoid robotic efforts as well as his work with NASA designing an exercise machine for a human mission to Mars or other missions beyond low earth orbit. Peter also describes the work he is doing with IHMC High-Performance Director Joe Gomes, the former Oakland Raiders strength and conditioning coach. Peter and Joe as well as others at IHMC are designing exercise technologies to extend the resilience of high-performing humans, such as astronauts and elite warfighters. Many of these technologies will eventually be able to be utilized by the general public.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to STEM Talk.
0:01.1	Stem Talk.
0:02.0	Stem Talk.
0:03.0	Stem Talk.
0:04.0	Stem Talk, where we introduce you to fascinating people who passionately inhabit the scientific and technical frontiers of our society.
0:14.0	Hi, I'm your host, Don Cornagus, and joining me to introduce today's podcast as the Man Behind the Curtain, Dr. Ken Ford, IHMC's director and chairman of the double secret selection committee that selects all the guests who appear on STEM Talk.
0:24.7	Hi, Dawn. Good to be here with you.
0:26.8	Today's episode features a colleague of ours, Dr. Peter Newhouse, who is a senior research scientist here at IHMC.
0:32.6	Peter is well known for his work on lower extremity exoskeleton devices and their applications for mobility
0:38.3	assistance. And this is for people with paralysis and parisus, gate rehabilitation, strength,
0:43.0	endurance enhancement, and smart exercise devices. Peter is an exceptional engineer who led
0:48.5	IHMC's team that traveled to Zurich, Switzerland in 2016 to compete in the international
0:54.7	Cybathalon, a competition in which people with disabilities or physical weakness
0:59.4	used advanced assistive devices, including robotic technologies, to compete against each other.
1:04.9	The competition drew 66 teams from 25 nations, and at the end of the day, IHMC's team walked away with the silver
1:12.4	medal in the powered exoskeleton competition. I was so happy for Peter, as we all were, and also
1:18.1	the rest of the IHMC team. And we'll talk about that some more in today's episode. But before
1:22.3	we get to today's interview with Peter, we have some housekeeping to take care of. First, we
1:26.3	really appreciate all of you who have subscribed to STEM Talk, and we are especially appreciative of all the wonderful
1:30.6	five-star reviews that are piling up on iTunes. As we announced in several earlier episodes,
1:35.1	the Double Secret Selection Committee has been continually and carefully reviewing our reviews
1:38.8	on iTunes, with an eye towards selecting the wittiest and most lavishly praised-filled reviews
	...

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