Modeling a Robotic Exoskeleton
Objective
This illustration was intended to highlight an interesting new application of robotics in rehabilitating stroke patients. A high percentage of individuals who suffer a stroke also lose a degree of musculoskeletal function, making it difficult to complete daily tasks and maintain independence. A patient utilizing this robotic exoskeleton can run through repetitions of simple motions that may, over time, help rewrite the connection between hand and brain. Using highly-detailed, realistic renders with dramatic lighting and posing, this piece aims to make a seemingly futuristic concept immediately tangible.
Audience | patients and healthcare professionals
Client | Leah Lebowicz
Medium | Pixologic ZBrush, Luxion Keyshot, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
Format | 8.5” x 11” printed infographic
Process
In early stages of the planning process, layout sketches and a quick mockup of text and graphic elements were created. After a class critique, some extraneous information was removed to promote clarity and to better show off the model.
The hand was initially blocked out with a flat palm and fingers (left). I added a ZSphere rig to my model to adjust it into a more natural pose (right) with a relaxed palm and lightly curved fingers.
All elements of the exoskeleton were built using ZBrush’s hard surface modeling tools. The main control box and finger joints were first roughed out (right) and then refined.
The final model was imported from ZBrush into Keyshot, where materials and lighting were added. The image on the left demonstrates the appearance of the model as rendered out from Keyshot, prior to any compositing in Photoshop.
Photoshop tools were used to balance out lighting and contrast, as well as create additional background and lighting effects. Text and graphics were added in Adobe Illustrator.