Cole S. Simpson

Papers

Total Citations

110

H-Index

About

Cole S. Simpson is a biomechanics and rehabilitation engineer whose research focuses on developing accessible, soft wearable devices to restore and enhance human movement. His major contributions center on the design and validation of "exomuscles"—inflatable, textile-based exosuits that provide targeted support for shoulder abduction, a critical movement often impaired after stroke. His most-cited work, "Exomuscle: An inflatable device for shoulder abduction support" (47 citations), demonstrates how these lightweight, low-cost devices can offload shoulder abductor muscles, offering a promising alternative to rigid, expensive rehabilitation robots. Simpson’s follow-up study (46 citations) further explores how such exosuits can aid post-stroke upper extremity recovery, addressing the critical gap in access to assistive technologies. Beyond upper-limb rehabilitation, his innovative work on lower-limb biomechanics, "Connecting the legs with a spring improves human running economy" (12 citations), reveals a surprising mechanism: a simple elastic "exotendon" connecting the legs enhances running efficiency not just by reducing leg swing effort, but through a more complex, energy-saving interaction. Simpson’s research bridges fundamental biomechanics and practical, low-cost assistive technology, making him a notable figure in wearable robotics and rehabilitation engineering.