Walking Into a New Era of Soft Exoskeletons for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Humanitarian Impact of Electron Device Technologies and Applications

The MyoStep project, developed at the University of Houston (UH) and funded by the IEEE Electron Devices Society (EDS) Award, exemplifies the transformative potential of technology in addressing global challenges. This humanitarian initiative focuses on creating a lightweight, soft exoskeleton to assist children with cerebral palsy (CP), improving mobility and enhancing their quality of life. Beyond its humanitarian impact, MyoStep serves as an unparalleled educational platform, offering undergraduate students, particularly those from underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), hands-on experience in cutting-edge fields such as smart materials; wearable technology; and biomedical, electrical, and computer engineering. By merging technical excellence with a mission-driven purpose, MyoStep not only inspires the next generation of engineers but also embodies the IEEE EDS vision of advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.