Repawse Exosquelet de Reabilitacion per Animals de Companhiá by Leijing Zhou

Repawse Exosquelet de Reabilitacion per Animals de Companhiá by Leijing Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award d'Argent in Cura d'Animals Competition Category.

ArgentCura d'Animals· 2025

Repawse Exosquelet de Reabilitacion per Animals de Companhiá

by Leijing Zhou

Client: Zhejiang University

A' Design Award d'Argent Winner in Cura d'Animals Category

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The Design

About Repawse Exosquelet de Reabilitacion per Animals de Companhiá

Repawse es un exosquelet de reabilitacion concebut per de cans amb un problèma dels membres posteriors. De sensors d'electromiografia de susfàcia legisson los senhals musculars d'un membre anterior san, e un microcontrolador utiliza aquestes senhals per predire l'intencion de movement. D'actuators linears bolegan alara lo supòrt del membre posterior en temps real, per çò que la marcha demòra coordenada e naturala. Lo quadre es fach d'aliatge d'alumini, la doblura d'escuma de memòria mofla, e las sòlas de caochoc antiderapant. Las pèças son estampadas en 3D a partir d'escans del còs per un ajustament individual e un confòrt mai grand.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argent

Repawse Exosquelet de Reabilitacion per Animals de Companhiá a ganhat la distincion A' Design Award d'Argent, una reconeissença extraordinàriament prestigiosa acordada a de designs d'ort de gamma, esplendids e impressionants. Los ganhaires de l'Argent son d'òbras terriblament brilhantas e extrèmament creativas que illustran l'experiéncia, lo talent e la finessa excepcionals de lors designers. S'espèra que Repawse Exosquelet de Reabilitacion per Animals de Companhiá siá una òbra meravilhosa e de referéncia, notablament professionala e prigondament innovanta. Aqueste design ganhaire de la distincion A' Design Award d'Argent es una invencion fòrça notabla e admirada, que fa un ben e fa avançar las frontièras de l'art, de la sciéncia, del design e de la tecnologia. Repawse Exosquelet de Reabilitacion per Animals de Companhiá es una creacion immensament envejada que desrevelha de desirs, aduch de sentiments positius e fa néisser l'estonament e l'esmaiment.

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