Italian Omnia Bionic Leg Demonstrates Advanced Technology and Teamwork in Cybathlon 2024
October 30, 2025 — One year after the prestigious Cybathlon 2024 prosthesis race, an Italian research team has published an in-depth focus article in Science Robotics outlining the development and performance of the Omnia bionic leg, which secured first place in the competition’s leg prosthesis category. The leg’s success not only highlights cutting-edge prosthetic technology but also underscores the critical role of teamwork, particularly through the involvement of its pilot and co-developer, Andrea Modica.
Breakthrough Prosthesis Design
The Omnia system, engineered at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in collaboration with the Rehab Technologies IIT-INAIL Lab and coordinated by Matteo Laffranchi, is an innovative lower limb prosthetic prototype designed specifically for transfemoral (above-knee) amputees. It features two fully motorized components: the Unico knee and the Armonico ankle.
What sets Omnia apart in the Cybathlon 2024 was its entirely custom design — it reached the final round without relying on any commercial prosthetic parts, showcasing the lab’s unique technological advancements. The device incorporates a sophisticated sensor network enabling continuous communication between the knee and ankle units, allowing seamless adaptation to different terrains and tasks.
Pilot Performance Brings Technology to Life
Andrea Modica, the device’s pilot, is himself a transfemoral amputee, having lost his leg in a motorcycle accident in 2021. Since then, Modica has demonstrated extraordinary resilience—returning to sporting activities, progressing to Paralympic-level skiing, and advancing into competitive prosthetic technology testing. He currently supports the IIT-INAIL lab as a technician.
During the Cybathlon, Modica completed nine out of ten highly challenging obstacle-course tasks in an impressive 2 minutes and 57 seconds. These tasks included walking along a balance beam while carrying buckets, climbing and descending stairs while handling objects, and navigating inclined ramps. His performance spotlighted not only Omnia’s capabilities but also the importance of real-world user input in refining prosthetic function.
User-Centered Development and Teamwork
Modica’s involvement extended beyond piloting; he actively contributed to refining both hardware and software elements of the Omnia system. Drawing on firsthand experience with his everyday prosthesis, he helped the engineers refine device stiffness, propulsion dynamics, and control algorithms—tailoring them to the specific challenges posed by the Cybathlon courses.
This user-centered approach epitomizes IIT’s philosophy, where ongoing pilot feedback drives iterative innovation, forging a strong link between research and real-life usability. Months of training enabled Modica to hone precision and safety, demonstrating the critical synergy of technology and teamwork.
Innovative Features and Technology
The Unico knee cleverly integrates hydraulic and electric systems. The hydraulic mechanism ensures quiet, smooth, and energy-efficient movement during level walking and descents. Meanwhile, a patented electric system provides active assistance during demanding motions such as stair climbing, steep incline navigation, and transitioning from sitting to standing. The transition between hydraulic and electric modes happens automatically, orchestrated by advanced algorithms processing sensor data from both the knee and ankle modules.
The knee’s battery supports up to a full day of active use, accommodates users weighing up to 125 kilograms, and is customizable by height. Additionally, software settings can be adjusted to match daily activity levels, whether sedentary or highly active.
The Armonico ankle complements this with an elastic foot paired with an innovative screw mechanism. This system reduces heel strike impact to enhance comfort, actively lifts the toe to prevent tripping, and amplifies ankle flexion to provide stability on slopes and encourage natural gait dynamics. It too offers 24-hour battery life in both right and left configurations.
Looking Ahead
The success of the Omnia bionic leg at Cybathlon 2024, backed by its detailed scientific documentation in Science Robotics, marks a significant milestone in prosthetic innovation. By integrating advanced mechatronics, sensor-driven adaptability, and user expertise, the IIT team has delivered a prosthesis that can potentially elevate the mobility and quality of life for transfemoral amputees.
For further insight, the full research article titled “The Omnia bionic leg with a semipowered knee and ankle wins the Cybathlon 2024 leg prosthesis race” by Benedetta Franconi et al. is available in Science Robotics (2025), DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.aeb6485. —
Source: Italian Institute of Technology; Edited by Stephanie Baum; Reviewed by Robert Egan; Published on techxplore.com
