GREGORY S. SAWICKI, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Director, Human PoWeR (Physiology of Wearable Robotics) Laboratory
Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
--> Contact Information
Snail Mail:
Gregory S. Sawicki
Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
NC State University and UNC Chapel Hill
Room #4130 EB3 Bldg.
911 Oval Drive
Campus Box 7115
NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7115
Office E-mail: greg_sawicki@ncsu.edu
Personal E-mail: gregorysawicki@gmail.com
Cell Phone: 919-448-5099
Office Phone: 919-513-0787
Fax: 919-513-7601
--> Research Interests
Generally, I am interested in the mechanics, energetics, and control of terrestrial locomotion.
For my doctoral dissertation studies I used powered exoskeletons as a tool to understand the contribution of ankle joint mechanical power to the metabolic cost of walking.
The overall goal of my laboratory is to use biological principles to develop better lower-limb robotic devices to assist both healthy and impaired human locomotion (e.g. post-stroke).
My current research focus is on the mechanics and control of compliant muscle-tendon units (e.g. ankle plantarflexors). I use simple mathematical models to explore how elastic mechanisms can be exploited to allow for economical force production and optimal mechanical energy transfer during cyclic movements, particularly in the context of mechanical assistance from wearable robots (e.g. exoskeletons). Model predictions are then tested experimentally in (1) human Achilles' tendon-triceps surae in vivo during walking, running and hopping (using ultrasound) and (2) bullfrog plantaris muscle-tendon in vitro during simulated locomotion (using sonomicrometry) .
--> Education
--> Publications
A full list of downloadable publications is available on my publications page.
*Last Updated by GSS on: April, 2013
