<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><ns2:project xmlns:ns1="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api" xmlns:ns2="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project" xmlns:ns3="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/fund" xmlns:ns4="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/person" xmlns:ns5="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project/outcome" xmlns:ns6="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/organisation" ns1:created="2026-06-22T07:57:45Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/projects/2A28660E-F63E-4B4F-A4A3-F338602C8D6B" ns1:id="2A28660E-F63E-4B4F-A4A3-F338602C8D6B"><ns1:links><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/persons/9DC965CC-DE11-4391-B1FB-BB7BFA02C3F2" ns1:rel="PM_PER"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/FBB4162B-9720-4AF7-AE29-30C9DFC4D624" ns1:rel="LEAD_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/FBB4162B-9720-4AF7-AE29-30C9DFC4D624" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:end="2026-02-28T00:00:00Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/funds/26822BF2-88D0-4EF6-907A-625632F190AE" ns1:rel="FUND" ns1:start="2024-03-01T00:00:00Z"/></ns1:links><ns2:identifiers><ns2:identifier ns2:type="RCUK">10087481</ns2:identifier></ns2:identifiers><ns2:title>Usability and Ergonomics of wearable robots</ns2:title><ns2:status>Closed</ns2:status><ns2:grantCategory>Collaborative R&amp;D</ns2:grantCategory><ns2:leadFunder>Innovate UK</ns2:leadFunder><ns2:abstractText>Wearable robotics represent a rapidly evolving field with great potential from healthcare and rehabilitation to industrial labor, athletic training, and consumer goods. These innovative devices are reshaping the way we approach human mobility, motion augmentation, and overall physical capacity.

Within the medical sector, wearable robotics such as exoskeletons and advanced prosthetics are transforming patient rehabilitation, allowing individuals recovering from accidents or debilitating conditions to regain their mobility. In the industrial domain, exoskeletons are being employed to protect workers from injury and boost productivity by assisting with heavy lifting or repetitive tasks.

Emerging markets also showcase the expanding reach of wearable robotics, with devices designed for athletic performance enhancement and consumer applications beginning to gain traction. These products, offering benefits from fitness improvement to immersive gaming experiences, highlight the breadth of wearable robotics' potential.

Despite these advancements, the high cost of devices, regulatory hurdles, and issues of social acceptance must be addressed for wearable robotics to achieve widespread adoption and utilization.

As part of our project's innovative focus, we aim to elevate the ergonomics, aesthetics, and user experience of wearable robotics. Recognizing that a device's practicality and visual appeal significantly impact user acceptance, we are developing designs that prioritize comfort, ease-of-use, and stylish aesthetics. By integrating these features, we intend to create a new class of wearable robotics that not only enhance physical capabilities but also seamlessly blend into users' lifestyles. Our vision centers on symbiotic designs, where wearable robotics become natural, attractive extensions of the user's body. Through this approach, we aim to revolutionize the wearable robotics landscape, elevating the industry standard and promoting broader societal acceptance.</ns2:abstractText></ns2:project>