Portable Caplex System

Systems

Technical Specifications

Please download our documentation to learn more about our products.

benchtop_unit.pdf 1.6MB

Caplex Advantage

Best-in-class portable and/or benchtop torque, power, and speed

Limitless possibilities for communication with other sensors & controllers

Convenient MATLAB/SImulink tools and the freedom to develop any control algorithm

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Caplex Advantage

Best-in-class portable and/or benchtop torque, power, and speed

Limitless possibilities for communication with other sensors & controllers

Convenient MATLAB/SImulink tools and the freedom to develop any control algorithm

Meet the Portable Caplex System

Inspired by the same design philosophy as our Full-Sized Caplex System, the Portable Caplex System is the ideal hardware and software platform for exploring, developing, and testing the benefits of wearable assistance, training/rehabilitation, and augmentation strategies—overground, outside, and in unstructured environments. Powered and controlled by off-board actuation and control systems, integrated together into a single unit that can be worn as a backpack or placed on a benchtop, and powered via a standard wall outlet or onboard battery pack, the Portable Caplex System provides exceptional performance and versatility to meet even the most challenging requirements. The platform is tried-and-true, thanks to years of experience with our customers and their invaluable experience, and ever-expanding, given a constantly growing user base that challenges us in new ways.

With the same modular architecture and interfaces used in the full-sized version, the Portable Caplex system can be configured to meet your unique needs without lengthy custom-development cycles—so even if we don’t have what you need off the shelf, we can develop plugins quickly and efficiently. In our burgeoning field, leveraging the prior work of others and collaborating effectively is more important than ever, requiring a common development platform to facilitate easy communication of ideas and translatability of work products. We welcome you to join our growing and supportive community as we innovate together toward a world where prosthetics, orthotics, exoskeletons, and other wearable robotics are more ubiquitous, more helpful, and more cost-effective than ever before.

What's Included

Wearable device(s) used by the individual whose mobility is being affected by the system
Off-board benchtop or backpack-mounted actuators featuring compact high-performance brushless servomotors with exceptional power and torque density, powered by a standard wall outlet
Off-board benchtop or backpack-mounted control system including high-performance real-time control software and hardware to read and process sensor signals and compute motor commands with out-of-the-box control algorithms or your custom versions
Optional battery power system and wireless host PC controls to completely free the user of the Caplex system from the constraints of the treadmill
Tether(s) which transmit(s) the electrical signals and mechanical actuation via bowden cable(s) between the off-board components and the wearable device(s)

Technical Specifications

Please download our documentation to learn more about our products.

benchtop_unit.pdf 1.6MB

Frequently Asked Questions

Compared to the Full-Sized Caplex System, does the Portable version have enough performance/io/power/torque/speed for my application?

The portability of this system entails some necessary performance trade-offs, but it is still quite capable! Please contact us with the specifics of your application and we’d be more than happy to explore how best to meet your requirements.

What is Caplex?

Caplex is a programmable, high-performance robotic system that emulates the real-world physical characteristics of wearable machines—from commercially-available physical products to next-generation concepts—to facilitate better and more efficient development, evaluation, and decision-making.

What is emulation / an emulator?

Like a simulation, emulation enables researchers & developers to rapidly iterate on design possibilities in a virtual environment. However, unlike in a simulation, emulation allows a real user to experience the physical sensations of wearing a variety of different assistive devices across an infinite number of possible modes or device settings while actually testing just one reprogrammable device. (In the context of wearable robotics, emulator is the term used to describe any such system.) Thus, unlike with traditional trial and error or prototyping, one device can present the functionality of many, eliminating the time-consuming need to switch between devices. Experimenters can emulate commercially-available products or purely hypothetical designs, and everything in between. Unlike in a simulation, the user experiences the real-world physical characteristics of the device being tested. In addition to emulation, Caplex can also be used to perform other functions, such as applying perturbations or rehabilitation/training paradigms.

Is Caplex available for clinical use?

Not yet! We are currently working with scientists & clinicians from the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and others to develop, evaluate, and validate an emulator-based test-drive strategy to inform prosthetic foot prescription. Learn more.

Do I need to be a robotics expert to use Caplex?

Not at all! One of the main reasons why we were inspired to create Caplex was to empower those who don’t have years of engineering or robotics experience to tackle interesting questions in prosthesis, orthosis, and exoskeleton design.

Does Caplex work with my own research/clinical/prescribed assistive device?

We’ve built Caplex to be flexible and efficient, including a modular approach to work with a variety of device types. Let us know what you have or what you’d like to do. We will do our best to devise a solution with our off-the-shelf modules, or propose a custom solution to address your questions. Please contact us.

Does Caplex work only with Humotech’s assistive devices?

No! The system is modular and designed with this kind of flexibility in mind. We have several customers who have developed their own wearable assistive devices or other end-effectors.

Is support included with purchase?

Absolutely. Our standard support package includes everything you might need, even on-site installation and training. We are committed to doing everything we can to make sure you get the most out of your Caplex system.

How much does a Caplex system cost?

Given how modular and customizable the system is, there is not one simple answer to this question. Our pricing is designed to balance accessibility to most R&D labs with our need to continually innovate. Please contact us for a quote.

What do I need to use Caplex?

Your Caplex system can be configured for use in a variety of settings. Our full-sized off-board system requires 3-phase power and, for most applications, a treadmill. Our backpack system requires only wall power. Contact us to discuss which configuration would work best for you.

Complimentary Products

Caplex EXO wearable devices, subject to your maximum torque requirements. We have tested the system extensively with EXO-001 and EXO-005 and are currently working to benchmark the system and adapt it to interface with other wearables. Please contact us with your specific requirements!

Portable Control System

One or two portable actuator units, though if you are interested in using this system for a >2 multi-axis actuation system we can certainly do that with a little bit of custom development; please contact us!

Standard Tethers