In this conversation, Dr. Elliott Rouse shares his journey from a mechanical engineer in auto racing to a leading figure in rehabilitation research at the University of Michigan. He discusses the importance of hands-on experience in engineering, the impact of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and his experiences at Google X. Dr. Rouse elaborates on the Open Source Leg project, its significance in the field of robotics, and the challenges of measuring its impact. He emphasizes the importance of community support in open source projects and the role of federal funding in advancing research. The conversation concludes with advice for early career innovators in the field.

Music by Chase Davenport. Used with permission.

Takeaways

• Dr. Rouse transitioned from auto racing to rehabilitation research to make a meaningful impact.

• The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab provided a unique environment for training in rehabilitation engineering.

• Hands-on experience is crucial for engineering students and researchers.

• The Open Source Leg project aims to create accessible robotic systems for research.

• Measuring the impact of the open source leg involves tracking downloads, contributions, and publications.

• Receiving positive feedback from users worldwide is a rewarding aspect of the project.

• Take-home studies for robotic systems are on the horizon, indicating progress in the field.

• Support for open source projects is a significant challenge that requires community engagement.

• Federal funding mechanisms like NSF's POSE are vital for supporting open source ecosystems.

• Early career innovators should focus on converting effort into tangible results.

Sound bites

"I want to impact people's lives."

"It's a wonderful place to be trained."

"I want to see the needle move."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dr. Elliott Rouse

01:37 Journey into Rehabilitation Research

05:08 The Impact of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

08:02 Bridging Corporate and Academic Worlds

09:24 Experiences at Google X and RAI Institute

15:42 The Open Source Leg Project

20:38 Measuring Impact and Success

24:38 Future of Open Source in Real-World Applications

28:28 Navigating Support Challenges in Open Source Development

30:48 Federal Support for Open Source Ecosystems

31:45 Exploring Research Scope and Hardware Design

32:11 Innovations in Variable Stiffness Mechanisms

35:35 Measuring Mechanical Impedance and User Preferences

37:08 Behavioral Economics in Exoskeleton Value Assessment

40:33 Understanding the Cost of Exoskeletons

42:07 Bridging Technology and Economic Decision Making

48:03 Advice for Early Career Innovators