There will be no cost overruns because each stage of the project is contracted at a fixed cost. Anyone with a lower limb amputation is likely to need a foot. They're experts in materials, and it's our hope they'll identify an optimal material for the bands, and also a mechanism for adjusting the bands. They have the equipment to do that kind of testing. Then we'll test the entire foot from the components they send back.
Bands surround the foot like rubber bands around a cylinder.
In addition to their binding properties, they are elastic elements that allow easy motion in early phases of a step and then, as stretched, provides stability, or resistance, just like a natural foot. If you rolled back, your foot would come off the floor. The intent is to look at the area of assistive technology for an individual to move about in an environment. It could be something for an upper limb. or extended to a knee or an artificial skin covering. But we need to find more cofunding.