Innovation Fall 2025

Registrant and public survey results | BCSEG membership drive | New regulatory module

INNOVATION ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BRITISH COLUMBIA FALL 2025

ROBOTICS ELEVATE MOBILITY

PM40065271 GOING WITH THE FLOW: traffic engineering

Innovation Fall 2025

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Fall 2025

Innovation

CONTENTS

COMMENT 4 Viewpoint NEWS 5 Sign up for the AGM 6 OCCS approved 8 BCSEG membership drive 9 Board report 36 Registrant survey results 38 Public survey results 39 AR follow-up survey 40 Registrant focus groups

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Robotics in motion Human in Motion helps those with mobility challenges rise up for any occasion. 28

FEATURES 14 Stand up robotics 24 CE: Digital twinning 26 CE: AI in practice 28 Traffic engineering 42 Voluneer spotlight: Mary-Jane Piggott

Into the uncertain Traffic engineering is considered one of the greyest areas of engineering.

P hoto : M inistry of T ransportation and T ransit

DEPARTMENTS 10 CE: new regulatory module 12 Professional Practice 43 Discipline and enforcement 44 In memoriam 45 Display advertisers’ index ON THE COVER Chloe Angus is an end-user of Human in Motion’s technology and the company’s Director of Lived Experience. P hoto : W endy D P hotography

40 In focus Registrant focus group weighs in on engagement.

P hoto : W endy D P hotography

Digital Innovation Interested in receiving Innovation digitally instead of by mail? You can change your preferences in your online account, under General/Overview/ Communication Preferences. View the digital version by scanning the QR code or by going to egbc.ca/Innovation.

Innovation Fall 2025

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V I EWPO INT

FALL 2025 | volume 29 number 3 INNOVATION

Reflections from the Chair

ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BRITISH COLUMBIA Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2 Tel: 604.430.8035 | Toll free: 1.888.430.8035

Email: info@egbc.ca | Web: egbc.ca

BOARD 2024/2025 Chair: Mark Porter, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC Vice Chair: Karen Ling, P.Eng. Immediate Past Chair: Michelle Mahovlich, MEng, P.Eng., P.Geo., FCSSE BOARD MEMBERS Bill Chan, CPA, CGA, MBA, ICD.D; Veronica Knott, P.Eng.; Cathy McIntyre, MBA, C.Dir; Matthew Salmon, P.Eng.; T.J. Schmaltz, JD, FCPHR, SHRM-SCP, ICD.D; Malcolm Shield, P.Eng.; Colette Trudeau, MA; Jens Weber, P.Eng.; Dr. Gordon Zhou, P.Eng. EXECUTIVE TEAM Heidi Yang, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), Chief Executive Officer & Registrar Jennifer Cho, CPA, CGA, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Alison Dantas, MA, CEC, C.Dir, Chief Operating Officer Jason Ong, Acting Chief Regulatory Officer EDITORIAL ADVISORY GROUP Ryan Bird, P.Eng.; Roozbeh Nemati, PMP, P.Eng.; Ian Rodriguez, EIT; Raya Smertina, P.Eng.; Aman Tanvir, P.Eng.; Stefano Vitucci, P.Eng. Innovation is published quarterly by Engineers and Geoscientists BC. As the official publication of the organization, Innovation is circulated to all registrants of Engineers and Geoscientists BC as well as architects, contractors and industry executives. The views expressed in any article do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Board or Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Sales Representative: Wing-Yee Kwong Tel: 604.681.1811 Email: advertising@egbc.ca For information see: www.egbc.ca/About/Publications/Innovation/How-to-Advertise SUBMISSIONS Innovation does not accept unsolicited articles or photos, but we do welcome article proposals and ideas. Proposals should be of interest and relevant to our readers and recognize the regulatory role of Engineers and Geoscientists BC in ensuring public safety and environmental protection. They should not be a "sales pitch" for a company or organization. Send suggestions to: innovation@egbc.ca . LETTERS Innovation welcomes letters from our readers. All submitted letters may be subject to editing for length, clarity or accuracy. We reserve the right to reject unsuitable letters and we do not publish open letters to third parties. Send letters to: innovation@egbc.ca. REPRINTS & COPIES All material is copyright. For reprint permission or extra copies, contact: innovation@egbc.ca. SUBSCRIPTIONS All registrants with Engineers and Geoscientists BC receive Innovation in print or digital form. Registrants can update their communication preferences for Innovation in their accounts at egbc.ca/account. Send print or digital subscription requests to: innovation@egbc.ca. MANAGING EDITOR Shelley Nicholl Printed in Canada by Mitchell Press Ltd. on recycled paper. ADVERTISING SALES

As I enter my final month as Chair of Engineers and Geoscientists BC, I’ve found myself reflecting on what has been a meaningful and energizing year of service.

Throughout this time, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many registrants – volunteers, leaders, and practitioners – who care deeply about the work we do. Your passion and integrity have reaffirmed the strength of our professions and the value of self regulation done right. One of my goals this year was to build on our vision of modern regulation for a resilient world. We’ve begun important work to define what that means in practice through the lens of right-touch regulation and to continue to rebuild trust and engagement. We have continued to define and strengthen our relationship with the newly launched BC Society of Engineering and Geoscience, as we work together to support the professions. These conversations will continue – and they matter. I have also had the opportunity to engage in conversations with our regulator partners across Canada, including Engineers Canada and Geoscientists Canada. I believe we are well placed to continue leading regulatory excellence in BC and to work collaboratively to ensure we continue to enable inter-provincial mobility and jurisdictional support. I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with – our Board, dedicated staff, volunteers, and registrants – for your insight, commitment, and generosity. I remain deeply proud to be a structural engineer and am honoured to contribute to a profession that serves the public so meaningfully. As I look to the final stretch of my term, I do so with gratitude and with confidence that together we will continue to shape a strong, resilient, and trusted future.

Mark Porter, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC Board Chair info@egbc.c a

DIGITAL EDITION www.egbc.ca/About/Publications/Innovation

ISSN 1206-3622 Publications Mail Agreement No 40065271. Registration No 09799. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Innovation , Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 6N2.

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REGULATORY NEWS

Registrants have an opportunity to submit and speak to motions at the AGM this fall. P hoto : W endy D P hotography

AGM and Annual Conference set for October 28-30 Mark your calendar for this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Annual Conference in Vancouver from October 28-30. All registrants are encouraged to attend and participate in the AGM. Students and members of the public are welcome to attend as observers. Annual Conference

Following the success of the 2024 AGM, this year’s AGM will again be held on a weekday – Tuesday, October 28 at 2 p.m. – and use a hybrid format allowing registrants to attend virtually. More than 750 registrants attended the 2024 AGM either in person or online. A registrant survey following the 2024 AGM identified the weekday scheduling and hybrid format contributed directly to the record attendance. The AGM is an opportunity for registrants to hear from the Board and senior staff about the organization’s strategic progress, key initiatives, and financial standing. Registrants are welcome to submit motions for consideration at the AGM. The deadline for submissions is September 27 at 5 p.m. If you would like to submit a motion, please read the Motion Submission Guide and complete the Motion Submission Form on the website (scan code at right).

The Annual Conference will feature Continuing Education sessions, inspirational keynote speakers and networking opportunities. This year, a new pre conference workshop will provide additional networking time. As well, the trade show hours have been expanded to allow more time to interact with exhibitors. To register for the Annual Conference, see information on pages 22-23. For more information on the AGM, scan the QR code.

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REGULATORY NEWS

P hoto : W endy D P hotography Board approves Organizational Climate Change Strategy

The Engineers and Geoscientists BC Board has approved the Organizational Climate Change Strategy, which supports registrants and the organization in advancing sustainability and addressing climate change. The strategy builds on the 2021 Climate Change Action Plan to guide Engineers and Geoscientists BC, as an organization, to address climate change throughout its operational and regulatory activities. The strategy outlines two overarching goals: • Lead by example through operational initiatives that advance climate action and resilience • Support registrants in effectively reducing emissions, managing climate risk, and integrating sustainability into professional practice The strategy will be implemented in phases over the next five years, led by Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Climate Change and Sustainability team. The Board will receive annual updates and a formal Engineers and Geoscientists BC, in partnership with the Climate Risk Institute, is launching a new e-learning course designed to advance climate resiliency across Canada’s built environment. The course, called “Climate Change Resilience for Building Sector Professionals,” is focused on building capacity to implement climate resilience measures in the building sector. Tailored for practitioners involved in the planning, design, and construction of Part 3 buildings, this online course advances knowledge

mid-term review will be conducted to help ensure the strategy achieves the intended goals and objectives and is aligned with emerging science, regulatory shifts, and equity-related priorities. The review will include environmental scans, Indigenous partner feedback, and registrant input. The strategy supports Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s public interest mandate under the Professional Governance Act along with the Strategic Plan and is in alignment with the updated Climate Change Position Statement. As such, registrants are encouraged to understand and consider their responsibilities about climate change in their practice. For more information, contact sustainability@egbc.ca or scan the QR code.

Climate Change Resilience for Building Sector Professionals course offered

and skills for the use of climate-risk assessment and climate-resiliency measures for buildings and will be of interest to engineers, architects, building scientists, planners, policy makers, and procurement specialists.

Two sessions are being offered: • September 25 to October 23 • November 13 to December 11 To register, scan the QR code.

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Fall 2025

Innovation

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© 2025 The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved. Manulife, P.O. Box 670, Stn Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2J 4B8. Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. Visit Manulife.ca/accessibility for more information.

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Innovation Fall 2025

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COMMUNITY NEWS

BCSEG ready to welcome new members

The BC Society of Engineering and Geoscience (BCSEG) is launching its membership drive this month. “This marks a significant milestone

in our mission to support and elevate the engineering and geoscience professions across BC,” said BCSEG CEO Pria Sandhu.

All engineers and geoscientists in BC are welcome to sign up for membership in the advocacy body. Membership includes options for professional growth, advocacy, and community connections. The cost is $125 (including GST) for an annual membership and members will have access to early bird pricing of $99 until November 1, 2025. “As BCSEG continues to grow, we are committed to expanding the tools, resources, and support available to development programs is the ENG Learn platform, which offers courses tailored to help professionals expand their skills and advance their careers. A GEO Learn platform is currently under development and will be coming soon. For professional development, BCSEG offers access to financial education and services as well as personalized coaching services specifically for engineering and geoscience professionals. BCSEG’s mandate also includes: • Career advertising • The Branch Program • K-12 outreach • Affinity Program • Advocacy Going forward, BCSEG will focus on the following key challenges: • Workforce development • Climate action • Economic growth • Immigration policies For information, visit the BCSEG website by scanning the QR code or contact BCSEG at info@bcseg.ca . our members,” said Sandhu. One of the new professional

Licensed Member Professional-In-Training Non-Practicing Member Associate Member Membership Options:

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Membership Includes:

Eng Learn Career Advertising Branch Program K-12 Outreach Affinity Program Financial Literacy Executive Coaching

Advocacy:

Workforce Development Climate Action Economic Growth Immigration Policies

JOIN US TODAY For more information: BCSEG.CA INFO@BCSEG.CA

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Fall 2025

Innovation

BOARD NEWS

BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS: JUNE 20, 2025 Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Board of elected registrants and public representatives meets throughout the year. The following are the highlights of its June 20, 2025, meeting. Individual audits rate stays the same The Board agreed to keep the percentage of individual registrants randomly selected for a compliance audit in the 2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026) at one percent as it has been over the past two fiscal years. Stuart Nash, P.Eng., Manager of Individual Audits and Practice Reviews, noted that maintaining the current selection rate allows audit assessors to work on continuous improvement for the programs and address audit trends for all registrants. Organizational Climate Change Strategy approved The Board approved Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Organizational Climate Change Strategy (OCCS). The OCCS advances Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s public interest mandate under the Professional Governance Act while operationalizing the Strategic Plan and updated Climate Change Position Statement. (See article on page 6.) Building Trust with Registrants Project update The Board received an update on the organization’s Building Trust with Registrants project, which is led by the Communications team. The project aims to establish a formal engagement strategy to guide when, how, and on which topics Engineers and Geoscientists BC seeks input from registrants to inform its decisions. (See article on page 40.) Appointments

Geotechnical Engineering Materials Testing Non-Destructive Testing Mining Geotechnics Offshore Engineering Forensic Engineering Environmental Engineering Expert Witness

www.alphaadroit.ca 778-322-4110 | 780-708-4110

778-697-2146 www.ppmp.ca

PPMP Design & Development Audit Preparation & Support

Discipline Committee: • Rajib Ahsan, P.Eng. • Chris Arthur, P.Eng.

Post-Audit Follow-Up Continuing Support Annual Review

• Frank Denton, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) • John Haythorne, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) • Colin Smith, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.)

EGBC Compliance Audit? Support for every firm from sole practitioners to major organizations in every practice area

Scan the QR code to see Board meeting agendas, minutes and highlights.

FIND YOUR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Volunteering with Engineers and Geoscientists BC provides ongoing opportunities to: give back to your profession and industry; build

your network; earn professional development credits; and contribute. Scan the QR code to find the right opportunity for you.

Innovation Fall 2025

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CONTINUING EDUCATION REGULATORY LEARNING MODULE 2025/26 New learning module:Truth & Reconciliation

This year’s mandatory learning module is focused on deepening awareness of Indigenous Peoples, histories, and the ongoing impacts of colonization. This module will support registrants in building respectful relationships, enhancing cultural understanding, and contributing meaningfully to reconciliation. Specifically, this course will help registrants further understand: • how history impacts Indigenous Peoples • how current Indigenous issues impact Indigenous communities • Indigenous self-government • the constitutional, political, and legal context of Indigenous issues • how Indigenous and Western world views impact decision-making Under the Professional Governance Act and the organization’s Bylaws, Engineers and Geoscientists BC is required to present a regulatory learning module on Indigenous history, Indigenous engagement, and reconciliation at least once every three years. As a reminder, practising registrants must complete this mandatory regulatory learning module in the current reporting year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026) to meet their requirements, even if they have already completed the similarly themed module from three years ago. Non practising registrants and trainees may also view the module and record it as a Continuing Education (CE) activity. Scan the Knowledge Centre QR code below to register for the module. Pillar of the Strategic Plan Truth and Reconciliation is embedded in Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s current strategic plan as a key pillar of its commitment to social responsibility.

Truth and Reconciliation, as well as social responsibility education, is reflected in CE offerings, which also encompass sustainability, climate change, and EDI. Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s EDI team is working with consultants to further develop the organization’s Truth and Reconciliation strategy. In tandem, it is coordinating with the CE team to address any immediately actionable gaps in the content offerings, receive feedback, share insights from previously held sessions, and eventually align with the developed strategy. Truth & Reconciliation resource list To assist registrants in their journey through Truth and Reconciliation, Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s EDI team has published a resource list for Truth and Reconciliation. “One of the most important principles of Truth and Reconciliation is acknowledging the ongoing need to learn, unlearn, and listen with humility,” said Sneha Satheendran, EDI Manager, Programs and CE. “In this spirit, our Truth and Reconciliation Working Group, along with some contributions from staff members, has compiled a list of resources to support learning and reflection.” The list features resources, learning modules from third-party providers, guides and guidelines, information on land acknowledgements, videos, articles, books, events, and podcasts.

KNOWLEDGE CENTRE The Knowledge Centre hosts more than 100 on-demand recorded and self-directed courses for educational opportunities.

CALL FOR PRESENTERS Are you an expert in your field who would like to contribute to professional practice? Engineers and Geoscientists BC is seeking registrants to present on a variety of topics.

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Expand your knowlege with these CE courses

Annual Conference sessions Register for the conference at egbc.ca/conference. Wednesday, October 29 Purpose-Driven Practice: Embedding Social Responsibility to Create Meaningful Impact 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. A social responsibility panel, led by Marcie Cochrane, P.Eng., will explore how engineering and geoscience professionals are aligning business goals with climate action, sustainability goals, inclusive practices, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Reconciliation at Work: Practical Lessons from the Field 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. A session on “Truth & Reconciliation in Resource Management,” led by Kear Porttris, EIT, and Sk’ing lúudas (Natasha Parrish), will offer attendees practical approaches to support their reconciliation journey – wherever they are starting from – and present real world scenarios from engineering and geoscience professionals working with Indigenous communities. Thursday, October 30 Sen̓ áḵw District Energy System 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Keith Bate, P.Eng., will lead a technical learning session exploring the Sen̓ áḵw District Energy System, a four-million-square-foot rental development by the Squamish Nation’s economic development arm, Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation. The project is slated to become one of the first large-scale, zero-carbon housing projects in the world and the session will showcase the technology used in the system.

National Day for Truth And Reconciliation - September 30

Knowledge Centre session Register in the Knowledge Centre. QR code is on page 10. Tuesday, September 16 Climate Adaptation and Indigenous Knowledge 9 a.m. – noon This webinar, led by Janis Brooks, founder of Salishan Solutions, enables registrants and attendees to explore Indigenous worldviews on interconnectivity and how these can inform land-based and climate adaption strategies and will help them identify opportunities to integrate Indigenous perspectives into their personal and professional climate action efforts. “Indigenous Peoples have been adapting to environmental change for generations, guided by deep relationships with land, community, and future generations,” Brooks said. “This session helps connect those teachings to the work engineers and geoscientists do today – offering practical ways to approach climate action and collaboration through a more respectful, informed, and relational lens. It’s also an important part of reconciliation: developing deeper understanding and being open to shifting how we work, learn, and lead together.”

CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS The Continuing Education (CE) Program is mandatory and applies to all registrants with practice rights. Participation in the CE Program is optional for Engineers-in-training, Geoscientists-in-training, Non-Practising, Retired, and Life Non-Practising registrants. By June 30 each year, registrants must complete CE requirements in their online reporting system and then submit their CE declaration in the annual reporting system.

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PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE Newly published professional practice guidelines and advisories

These guidelines inform registrants about professional practice related to covered walkways, which are the temporary structures often required during the construction, renovation, or demolition of buildings and structures, and for other infrastructure project work. Covered walkways primarily shield pedestrians from the hazards of a construction site, including falling objects and other construction debris, but they can also provide a platform for the staging of construction materials, or for the placement of temporary construction office trailers. Additionally, covered walkways may serve as the base structure for attaching signage. As covered walkways have clear life-safety implications, it is important that they are properly engineered and constructed. These guidelines cover requirements for covered walkways outlined in the BC Building Code , the Vancouver Building By-law, and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Professional Practice Guidelines – Engineering Services for Temporary Structures: Covered Walkways These guidelines assist professional practice related to the specification, design, implementation, verification, deployment and maintenance of security-critical software. As systems ranging from critical infrastructure to consumer electronics become increasingly network connected, so have the opportunities for malicious attacks on these systems with the potential for severe impacts to the public and the environment. These guidelines outline the expectations, obligations and standards expected of professionals when developing security-critical software with the objective of establishing a common approach for carrying out professional activities related to this work with a focus on security. These guidelines help standardize professional practice in BC related to landslide inventory, landslide susceptibility, landslide hazard, and landslide risk maps. The guidelines outline the roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved with the preparation of landslide maps and introduce the concept of a three-level map system for each type of landslide map to help communicate the potential variability in level of detail, complexity, and applicability of various landslide mapping products. Landslide maps can help inform regional and community planning, emergency planning, and post-disaster recovery planning. They can also be utilized for preliminary assessments, feasibility studies, risk assessments, conceptual designs, and project planning. Professional Practice Guidelines – Landslide Mapping Professional Practice Guidelines – Development of Security-Critical Software

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Fall 2025

Innovation

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Professional practice inquiries

I’ve encountered a situation that doesn’t appear to meet professional practice standards. What do I do next?

Practicing registrants are likely to encounter situations throughout their careers where they find concerns with the practice of another individual. While registrants are required under section 58 of the Professional Governance Act to report concerns to Engineers and Geoscientists BC when they have reasonable and probable grounds to believe the actions of another individual poses risk of significant harm, many concerns can be addressed through the following proactive, professional steps first. 1. Gather information Before acting, take reasonable steps to confirm that your concerns are legitimate. It is always best practice to review the information at your disposal and check it against relevant professional practice standards such as legislation, codes, and guidance documents to assess if there is, in fact, a problem. Following this process will help confirm the existence of an issue and how to address it. If the concern is outside your scope of practice, consider consulting a peer or independent expert. Collect facts and context to clarify whether a problem exists or if it may stem from a misunderstanding. 2. Discuss with relevant parties Professional concerns are often resolved through respectful, direct communication. Speak with the person involved to share your observations and take the time to understand their explanation. Keep the conversation focused on technical or practice-related concerns. In some cases, concerns may be fully addressed through discussions with the individual or individuals involved. If differences remain, consider requesting a third-party review. The Professional Practice Guidelines – Peer

Review provide guidance on conducing these reviews. Throughout the process of communicating with the other party and any subsequent reviews that may take place, it is important to document discussions and findings. 3. Elevate the concern If the concern persists and you believe it cannot be resolved through discussion or review, consider escalating. This might mean raising the issue with project leadership, a client, or another authority within or outside your organization. Filing a complaint with Engineers and Geoscientists BC is appropriate when concerns persist and the issue has not been resolved. Keep in mind that the complaint process does not offer an immediate solution to practice concerns; however, it is the right course of action to help address risks associated with the practice of an individual. 4. Know when to report Principle 9 of the Code of Ethics requires registrants to report the practice of anyone that may pose a risk of significant harm to the environment or the public. It is important to note that if at any point you have reasonable and probable grounds to believe that the practice of an individual may pose a risk of significant harm to the public or environment, you must act promptly and report to Engineers and Geoscientists BC and any other appropriate authority. This also includes any practices which may be illegal or unethical.

David Slade, P.Eng. Practice Advisor

Guidelines and advisories

Scan the QR code to see all professional practice guidelines and practice advisories.

Upcoming professional practice guidelines: • Professional Practice Guidelines – Climate Resilience Retrofits • Professional Practice Guidelines – Subsurface Investigations

Innovation Fall 2025

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STAND UP ROBOTICS By Shereen Lee Photos by Wendy D Photography

A Vancouver exoskeleton startup is reimagining assisted walking to support people with paraplegia so they can experience upright motion.

Hossein Dehghani, Chief Technology Officer of Human in Motion, experiments with the XoMotion R.

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Innovation Innovation

E very day, an estimated 1,000 people around the world suffer a spinal cord injury, often leaving people with paralysis below the waist. In 2015, Vancouver-based fashion designer Chloe Angus became one of those people, after doctors found a benign tumor in her spinal cord they couldn’t remove. “Doctors told me I would never walk again,” Angus said. But she refused to believe a wheelchair was the best option, especially when the secondary health implications of a sedentary lifestyle began to set in: bone density loss, circulation issues, and muscle atrophy. When her doctors offered her a fentanyl patch program for the pain she experienced from sitting for extended periods, she realized the world needed a better solution for addressing issues like the paralysis she experienced. So, Angus began a search for a solution to help her regain mobility.

Innovation Fall 2025 Innovation Fall 2025

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“

Next door in Burnaby, engineers working at Simon Fraser University (SFU) had just embarked on a similar journey. Two years prior, mechatronics professor Dr. Siamak Arzanpour, P.Eng., had been following the crowd at a San Francisco conference when he witnessed a person with paraplegia taking their first steps in an exoskeleton. “I was excited, similar to everyone else,” said Arzanpour. He quickly realized the technology had a long way to go. Early-stage exoskeletons could only walk forward and required human assistance for balance. “The user had to balance his or her own weight and the weight of the robot,” said Arzanpour. “To use an exoskeleton like that, they have to be in very good health.” An exoskeleton that would fully support the human in it, rather than requiring outside intervention for maintaining equilibrium, would be far more accessible. It would also be much more challenging to create. Arzanpour and his SFU department collaborator, Dr. Edward Park, were drawn to the challenge of creating a self-balancing exoskeleton with a full range of motion. They immediately began prototyping and soon met

When I get in [the exoskeleton], it can run through a whole physiotherapy session, or I can put it on to walk and entertain. Chloe Angus Director of Lived Experience, Human in Motion

”

Angus – an end-user and collaborator who would go on to influence the team’s design process deeply. “I met the team and saw that their vision was exactly what I was looking for,” said Angus. The group formed Human in Motion Robotics in 2016 and began to pursue world-class exoskeleton development in earnest. Eight years and hundreds of iterations later, Human in Motion released its first product, ExoMotion R, and became the first self-balancing exoskeleton to receive Health Canada approval. Commercial units are now being sold for clinical rehabilitation. And Angus, a core member of the Human in Motion team, has walked over a quarter of a million steps across five countries during the development process. Patenting a hybrid robotic configuration Today, Human in Motion’s self-balancing exoskeleton is a joystick-controlled wearable robot, providing mobility assistance to those with disabilities. A “dance mode” version of the robot also predicts intended lower-body movement using an inertial measurement unit that captures upper-body speed and torque, allowing the user to walk – or dance – hands-free. ExoMotion R is designed for rehabilitative use and has already been installed in physiotherapy clinics across Canada. “When I get in [the exoskeleton], it can run through a whole physiotherapy session, or I can put it on to walk and entertain,” said Angus. “It could also be simply assisting and supporting me while I speak with people at eye level.” This adaptability allows clinicians to adjust the amount of support patients receive from the exoskeleton as they progress in their treatment programs. The team is

Come join our team! Employee-owned and invested in our people, we’re dedicated to excellence in engineering and project management.

kgsgroup.com/careers

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Innovation

Behzad Peykari has been with Human in Motion since his days as a graduate student at Simon Fraser University and now serves as VP of Engineering and Chief Innovation Officer.

developing other versions that will be suitable for at-home or personal use, while navigating global regulatory approval for its existing product. To reach its current stage in development, Human in Motion had to first design a product that addressed the issues in early prototypes. Traditional robotic limbs use serial architecture – motors and gearheads, combined into what roboticists call actuators, stacked on top of each other to generate movement. In a serial configuration, each motor carries the weight of the components that follow. This method mirrors the biology of human limbs but means that actuators close to the base of each limb need to be powerful – and bulky. Imitating the range of motion seen in a human leg requires up to seven actuators: three for the hip joint’s 3D motion; one for the knee’s swiveling motion; and three to model the ankle. Early exoskeleton models on the market pursuing the serial approach made dramatic compromises to keep

weight low, including limiting their devices’ ranges of motion. The design solution to this issue came from the team’s observations of fingers. Fingers, as opposed to joints, run in parallel; multiple actuators work together next to each other, rather than stacking sequentially. Parallel robots are typically designed for local applications, like dexterity. The Human in Motion team drew on both serial and parallel architecture, incorporating limbs in parallel to create a more compact, efficient design. “Working together, they are very powerful and accurate,” said Arzanpour. Developing in-house manufacturing capabilities After years of painstaking work, the team finally felt they had a design that could distinguish itself in the robotics space. But the group faced an issue: even after

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Results from trials with the XoMotion R are reviewed.

designing the perfect system, no manufacturer could help them make the actuators that met Human in Motion’s requirements for speed, torque, weight, and size. “We searched for nearly six months,” said Behzad Peykari, who joined Human in Motion as an SFU master’s student in 2018 and now serves as the Vice-President of Engineering. “We spent a long time talking to different manufacturers.” The team’s requirements were stringent. They needed motors powerful enough to move a human body, along with a setup small enough to wear, light enough for extended use, and fast enough to feel natural. At the end of its half year search, the team was close to giving up on hopes of implementing a prototype. “We almost got to a point of deciding to abandon the project,” Arzanpour says. Instead, Human in Motion decided to design its actuators from scratch and worked to customize solutions that would fit the team’s specifications. Today, its actuators are still assembled by hand in its Vancouver laboratory. “These actuator designs were perfected over the years,” said Peykari. “It’s become one of our points of core expertise.” The hip mechanism, in particular, has three degrees of freedom and took years to develop using a critical interface. “If you look at the first prototypes that we developed, the actuators’ size and weight are very comparable to the actuators that we have in our product right now, but the speed and torque capacity that they have is four times more than what we started with,” said Peykari.

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Chloe Angus, Director of Lived Experience, is an end-user and collaborator who has influenced the team’s design process.

Trials in exoskeleton development Throughout the design process, prototypes began with localized goals and expanded to encompass more functionalities as the team’s products became increasingly advanced. The first prototype, Alpha – a suit that Angus dubbed “Arnie” after Arnold Schwarzenegger for its massive profile – allowed the team to determine rough torque requirements, understand computational power requirements, and begin iterating on the control systems and battery sizing. The next prototype, Beta I, began to address the issue of self-balancing. Human in Motion’s prototypes were designed to fit 90 percent of the population, from five-foot tall, 90-pound users to six-foot-four, 220-pound users. This broad requirement means that exoskeleton engineers have even more considerations to keep in mind. “Humanoid robots have the same dimensions. Since all the specifications are known, the robot can be precisely programmed, and you are not expecting any types of internal disturbances,” said Arzanpour. “But in the exoskeleton, though the lower body is confined, I cannot predict how the upper body is moving: if the user wants to move suddenly, these disturbances might make the robot unstable and tip over.” As Arzanpour puts it, an exoskeleton-assisted person has two brains, not just one. “We need to consider the

brain of the robot, but also the brain of the user,” said Arzanpour. “The brain of the exoskeleton somehow needs to understand the motions of the user, and based on that, execute the commands. That is another layer of complexity.” As the team developed its actuating devices, Human in Motion simultaneously built out the suit that aligned the robotic exoskeleton with human joints, allowing for safe force transfer. “One other important thing for us was to make sure that the centre of rotation of the robotic joint coincides with the centre of rotation for the biological joints,” said Hossein Dehghani, who serves as Chief Technology Officer at Human in Motion. “Imagine that these exoskeletons will be used by people who may not have sensation in their lower body. If there is a mismatch in the centre of rotations, there is a chance of dislocation or fracture.” Custom-designed orthotics – padding, straps, and support pieces that create a comfortable interface between exoskeleton and human – distribute loads and ensure that users can use the exoskeleton for several hours at a time without discomfort. The third prototype, Beta II, focused more directly on algorithms and mechanical affordances for fall prevention and preventing robot deformation, resulting

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Dehghani points to Human in Motion’s first working prototype, Beta I.

in a streamlined and consistent prototype. Most recently, the team completed development of ExoMotion I and ExoMotion R, where the team made usability improvements, experimented with different control configurations, and made specific adjustments to allow for efficient rehabilitation. Torque sensors, in particular, played a large part of their work on their rehabilitation-focused ExoMotion R. “Rehabilitation facilities work with patients on a range of conditions, from spinal cord injury, to stroke, traumatic brain injury, and MS,” explained Arzanpour. Torque sensors allow physiotherapists to measure the motor functions of the user and augment them. “For example, for spinal cord injury most of the time you need 100 percent assistance, but for stroke patients, you don’t want 100 percent assistance,” said Arzanpour. “You want to push them to force themselves to exercise. With these precise measurements that we can now do with our torque sensors, the device can be used for more advanced rehabilitation.” Iterating with artificial intelligence Improvements in artificial intelligence (AI) are also deeply changing how Human in Motion approaches its design process. “Right now, the algorithms that we have

in our robots are model-based algorithms,” explained Arzanpour. These models, typically based on empirical or mathematical formulas, require engineers to make simplifications and to limit the comprehensiveness of the design. The team’s pre-AI approach involved setting up a test rig of barbell plates on the exoskeleton to test the rig, a simplified approach that required trade-offs for precision and accuracy. As AI technology matured, the team began emphasizing machine learning as a way forward to improve the stabilization technology and design process. Now, in collaboration with researchers from tech giant Nvidia and the renowned robotics company Boston Dynamics, Human in Motion is overhauling its hardware to adjust to AI simulation and training. “The reason that [early] exoskeletons did not initially follow the path of self-stabilization was because you needed a million data points to train the robot and make sure that the robot is not falling,” said Arzanpour. Now, with improved virtual environments, robots can be “trained’ in simulated spaces with accuracy, generating stable motion for users of different heights and weights. “Right now, what we’re doing with AI is closing the gap between simulation and reality,” said Arzanpour.

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Experiments in AI have even led to integration with brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which gather electrical inputs to interpret a user’s movement intentions without needing a joystick. “The interface might go from being a handheld controller to voice-controlled or controlled with a BCI,” said Dehgani. “The processes we are using are future looking, trying to refine our product, accommodating different scenarios.” Upcoming releases of Human in Motion’s exoskeleton will focus on physical controls due to the experimental nature of the technologies and regulatory requirements for physical control fail-safes. “It is a medical device, and safety is of utmost importance,” said Arzanpour. As the technologies for different approaches become more widely accepted, the team plans on looking into different control mechanisms that allow for increased user autonomy. Striding into the future When the Human in Motion team began its work on exoskeletons, none of the members had truly anticipated the scale it would grow to, breaking national records and appearing on international stages. The concurrent development of AI has allowed the team to progress even farther than it had imagined possible in 2014. “We brought this product to such a level of technical excellence, it’s walking itself out of what we would traditionally call an exoskeleton and into a wearable humanoid,” said Dehgani. “With the very fast pace of growth we’re seeing in robotics, it is very hard to predict where the technology will go. For us, adaptability is important.” Even more surprising than the technological growth of the industry was the visceral experience of seeing lives change in front of them. “We have had many moments that put us all in tears,” recalls Arzanpour, “when we saw people walking for the first time after 20 years, hugging their family members after a long time.” These emotional moments have become part of the daily work of developing at Human in Motion, where extraordinary achievements have quietly become routine. “It changes my day when I get to walk in the XoMotion,” said Angus. By now, she’s crossed platforms small and large. During a particularly memorable moment in early 2025, Angus walked across the stage at the Invictus Games closing ceremony in front of over 10,000 attendees as a flag-bearer. Ten years after her lower-body paralysis, the question isn’t whether she will walk again; it’s where she’ll go.

The team considers the in-house manufacturing capabilities and mechanical design to be some of the company’s core strengths.

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2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND AGM OCTOBER 28 – 30, 2025 | VANCOUVER, BC SHERATON VANCOUVER WALL CENTRE

Don’t miss out on exciting new features this year! Our 2025 Annual Conference and AGM is from October 28 – 30, 2025, in Vancouver, BC. It will feature Continuing Education sessions, the Annual General Meeting, inspirational keynote speakers, valuable networking opportunities, and new activities.

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WHAT’S NEW? Pre-conference workshop. Kick off your conference experience with a dynamic workshop designed to equip you with practical skills and fresh insights for personal and professional growth. This interactive session will explore key strategies to enhance communication, collaboration, and leadership. More networking time. We heard you! Thanks to your feedback from our post-conference survey, we have more time for you to network with your colleagues, partners, and industry partners. Dedicated tradeshow hours. This year, we have carved out specific hours to maximize your interaction with exhibitors. There will be two hours dedicated to the tradeshow, followed by the Exhibitor Showcase where you can continue to network in the tradeshow space over light snacks and beverages.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30

Leadership: Taking the Wheel in Complex Times Dr. Jody Carrington Renowned Psychologist, Human Connection Expert, and Bestselling Author

The Blessings of Disaster: The Lessons That Catastrophes Teach Us and Why Our Future Depends on It Dr. Michel Bruneau, P.Eng. (Ontario) SUNY Distinguished Professor, University at Buffalo

Beating Bias Yassmin Abdel-Magied Leadership and Diversity Expert, Social Advocate

Speakers and presentations are subject to change. For more information and updates, visit egbc.ca/conference.

SPECIAL EVENTS Welcome Networking Event Start the conference with a fun networking ice breaker to spark conversation with other attendees. Closing Cocktail Reception Celebrate the conclusion of two exciting days of learning and networking at our Closing Cocktail Reception! This special event promises a delightful mix of beverages, hors d’oeuvres, and engaging conversations where you can share key insights from the sessions.

EARN CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS

The 2025 Engineers and Geoscientists BC Annual Conference and AGM will bring together engineers and geoscientists from all over the province for learning and networking experience. By participating in this year’s annual conference, registrants can earn Continuing Education (CE) Hours.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM

REGISTER TODAY Head to our conference page for more information or to register. For all updates, visit us on our website.

The AGM will be presented in a hybrid format, allowing registrants and other guests to attend online or

in-person in Vancouver, BC. Visit our AGM page for more information.

@Engineers and Geoscientists BC | #EngGeoBCConference | egbc.ca/conference FOLLOW US

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