Steele Lab

Human Ability & Engineering

AccessEngineering

NSF center focused on supporting individuals with disabilities to pursue careers in engineering and integrating universal design into the engineering curricula.

Musculoskeletal Simulation

We use and develop new methods for dynamic musculoskeletal simulation to understand the complexities of human movement.

Optimizing Orthoses

Using 3D-printing and simulation to improve orthosis design, fabrication, and function.

Outreach

Learning about engineering through the ultimate machine, the human body.

The human body is the ultimate machine.

The complexity of the musculoskeletal and neuromsucular systems enable us to perform the many activities of daily life. However, this same complexity also makes the human body incredibly difficult to treat when things go wrong. The aim of the Ability & Innovation Lab is to empower human mobility through engineering and design. We take a human-centered design approach and work closely with patients, clinicians, and families. Whether on the athletic field, in the clinic, or at home we seek to understand how humans move and how we can improve performance and quality of life. Let’s get moving!

Quantifying Neuromuscular Control

In collaboration with Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and NINDS we are quantifying patient-specific changes in neuromuscular control by intergrating clinical gait analysis and utilizing both synergy analysis and dynamic musculoskeletal simulation computations. The goals of this project are to evaluate if

Optimizing Orthoses

Orthoses are commonly prescribed for individuals with cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injury, and many other disorders to help improve movement and quality of life. However, fabricating and fitting the optimal orthoses for each individual remains challenging. Due to limitations

Seattle Handathon

New engineering and design tools are revolutionizing our ability to quickly fabricate custom-fit devices. Our lab, along with UW’s Division of Prosthetics & Orthotics, UW-Bothell, and Seattle Pacific University, are building a community dedicated to using these tools to improve