ReHAnkle rehabilitation robotics: project overview
ReHAnkle rehabilitation robotics is a project in which Technaid works together with the Neurorehabilitation Group of CSIC, the Portuguese company Caixa Mágica and the National Hospital for Paraplegics of Toledo. This consortium combines hardware design, control engineering and clinical expertise. As a result, the project aims to bring next-generation ankle rehabilitation robotics closer to daily clinical practice in Europe.
With ReHAnkle rehabilitation robotics, the partners want to improve the current device at three levels. First, they refine the hardware, focusing on mechanics, actuation and sensing to provide precise ankle assistance. Second, they update the control architecture to enable more adaptive and patient-centred training strategies. Third, they develop new therapy management software so clinicians can configure sessions, monitor progress and review data through an intuitive interface. In addition, the team will test all these elements with real patients in a clinical environment.
Clinical validation and European context
The main objective of the project is to reach Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL-7). At this stage, the ankle rehabilitation system must work in an operational clinical setting. It needs robust hardware, a mature control system and a workflow that therapists can apply in real practice. Therefore, each design decision must consider not only engineering performance but also usability and safety for patients and clinicians.
ReHAnkle is part of the DIH-HERO initiative, which builds a European innovation network in healthcare robotics. Through this network, companies and research centres gain access to funding, test facilities and collaboration partners. This support helps transform research prototypes into solutions ready for hospitals and rehabilitation centres. DIH-HERO receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 825003.
For Technaid, RehAnkle strengthens our collaboration with leading clinical and research teams in lower-limb robotics. It also provides experience that will feed into future tools for therapists, researchers and patients.