Professor Tom Sugar of Arizona State University, USA answers our questions about his work and Cambridge University Press’s new journal Wearable Technologies.

What first attracted you to the field of wearable technologies?

I started working in the area of stroke rehabilitation in 2004 building devices that could be worn using soft bladder actuators called McKibben Muscles. We designed an arm exoskeleton called RUPERT for Robotic Upper Extremity Repetitive Therapy, a foot mentor device, and a hand mentor device. I also developed spring based actuators for a bionic ankle that we called, a Robotic Tendon.

What are you currently working on that you’d like to tell us about?

I am currently designing a hip exoskeleton that can be used for lifting and pushing.

What do you think the journal Wearable Technologies will bring to the field?

I want the journal to showcase new exoskeleton technologies for human assistance both in the medical and industrial fields. I like to say that these systems can improve both health and worker wellness.

What are some of the challenges facing the field today?

We need to research these exoskeleton systems to show the long term benefits of the devices.

In which areas of the wearable technologies field do you expect to see growth in the next five to ten years?

Personally, I see the area of industrial exoskeletons growing very fast.

Why should authors publish in Wearable Technologies?

This journal will showcase leading efforts in wearable sensors, prosthetics, exoskeletons both medical and industrial systems.