Repawse Kino Kōkua Hoʻōla no nā Holoholona Punahele by Leijing Zhou

Repawse Kino Kōkua Hoʻōla no nā Holoholona Punahele by Leijing Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Kala in Hoʻolālā Mālama Holoholona, Mea Pāʻani, Lako a me Huahana no nā Holoholona Competition Category.

KalaMālama Holoholona· 2025

Repawse Kino Kōkua Hoʻōla no nā Holoholona Punahele

by Leijing Zhou

Client: Zhejiang University

A' Design Award Kala Winner in Mālama Holoholona Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #172611

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Repawse Kino Kōkua Hoʻōla no nā Holoholona Punahele

ʻO Repawse he kino kōkua hoʻōla i hoʻolālā ʻia no nā ʻīlio me ke kīnā o nā wāwae hope. Heluhelu nā mea ʻike electromyography ma ka ʻili i nā hōʻailona o ka ʻiʻo mai kekahi wāwae mua olakino, a hoʻohana kekahi mīkini hoʻokele liʻiliʻi i kēia mau hōʻailona no ka wānana ʻana i ka manaʻo neʻe. A laila, hoʻoneʻe nā mīkini hoʻoneʻe pololei i ke kākoʻo o ka wāwae hope i ka manawa maoli, i mau ai ka hele wāwae me ka lōkahi a me ke ʻano kūlohelohe. Ua hana ʻia ke kino paʻa me ka metala alumini hui ʻia, ka uhi loko me ka foam hoʻomanaʻo palupalu, a me nā kapuaʻi me ka lāʻau kepau pale paheʻe. Paʻi ʻia nā ʻāpana me ka mīkini paʻi 3D mai nā kiʻi scan o ke kino no ka hoʻokomo pono pilikino a me ka ʻoluʻolu nui aʻe.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Kala

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Repawse Kino Kōkua Hoʻōla no nā Holoholona Punahele i ka A' Design Award Kala, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kiʻekiʻe loa, nani a kupaianaha. He mau hana ʻālohilohi loa a hana noʻeau nui nā lanakila Kala e hōʻike ana i ka loea, ka makakoho a me ka ʻoi aku o ka noʻonoʻo o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Repawse Kino Kōkua Hoʻōla no nā Holoholona Punahele he hana kupaianaha, kūlana ʻoi aku, ʻoihana kiʻekiʻe a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Kala he mea hoʻokumu kūpono loa, mahalo ʻia e hāʻawi i ka pōmaikaʻi a hoʻoneʻe i nā palena o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana. He mea i ʻeleu ʻia e nā mea he nui ka hoʻolālā Repawse Kino Kōkua Hoʻōla no nā Holoholona Punahele e hoʻāla i ka makemake, lawe mai i nā manaʻo maikaʻi a hoʻāla i ka kamahaʻo a me ka mahalo.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: In response to the rehabilitation needs of disabled pets, we have developed a canine rehabilitation exoskeleton based on surface electromyographic (sEMG) control. By collecting sEMG signals from the healthy forelimb, the system drives the hindlimb actuators in real time to synchronise gait. Combined with 3D printing for custom design, it provides precise movement assistance for disabled dogs, embodying the technological protection of animal life dignity.
Dimensions & Packaging: Dimensions: 220mm × 200mm × 540mm
Materials: Aluminum alloy frame, soft memory foam lining, rubber soles
Technology: Surface EMG sensors, linear actuators, microcontroller-based control
Power source: Rechargeable lithium battery, 7.4V, 5000mAh
Tags: Pet Rehabilitation, Animal Welfare, Exoskeleton, sEMG Signal, Active Control, 3D-Printing, Customized Design, Assistive Mobility
Production Technology: The exoskeleton is produced through advanced 3D printing technology allowing individual customization based on precise body scans. Lightweight, durable materials, including soft memory foam lining, aluminum alloy for structural parts, and anti-slip rubber soles, ensure strength, comfort, and safety in daily use.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was accurately interpreting animal intention through muscle signals, with few existing precedents or standards. Historically, disabled pets faced limited and uncomfortable assistive solutions. Technologically, creating lightweight yet robust actuators and ensuring comfort required extensive material research, innovative mechanical design, and iterative prototyping with real pets.
Research: This project originated from a news report on prosthetic limbs for disabled pets, highlighting the pros and cons of current solutions. Inspired, we explored transferring active-control exoskeleton technology—originally developed for stroke patients—to veterinary rehabilitation. Through extensive field research, EMG data collection from animals, iterative predictive modeling, and mechanical prototyping, we successfully created an intelligent, active-assist exoskeleton for pets.
Inspiration: The inspiration for this project originated from a news report highlighting customized prosthetics for disabled pets, exposing significant limitations in current solutions. Coupled with my personal experience of caring for my own dog after its hindlimb injury, I recognized the broader societal need to extend humane, intelligent rehabilitation technology from human healthcare into pet care, ultimately enhancing animal welfare.
Project Duration: The project started in 2023 in Hangzhou and finished in March 2025 in Hangzhou.
Operation Flow: When the dog walks, sensors detect muscle signals (sEMG) from the healthy forelimb. These signals are processed to predict the movement intention of the impaired hindlimb, triggering linear actuators in real time. This active, intuitive assistance ensures natural movement, aiding rehabilitation efficiently.
Team Members: Menghan Li
Leijing Zhou
Xinmiao Shen
Xiaofei Gong
Xiaotong Guan
Ding Ding
Jinjie Li
Qianyi Wang
Keyin Chen
Zixiang Wang
Zihan Zhang