В середине 2004 года японцы намерены начать продажу первых коммерческих экзоскелетов — силовых роботизированных костюмов HAL-3. Эти машины создавались, в первую очередь, для инвалидов. Но и военные с интересом посматривают в сторону этой новинки.

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Категория: HAL 3 | Нет комментариев »

An active ankle-foot orthoses (AAFO) is presented where the impedance of the orthotic joint is modulated throughout the walking cycle to treat drop-foot gait. During controlled plantar flexion, a biomimetic torsional spring control is applied where orthotic joint stiffness is actively adjusted to minimize forefoot collisions with the ground. Throughout late stance, joint impedance is minimized so as not to impede powered plantar flexion movements, and during the swing phase, a torsional spring-damper control lifts the foot to provide toe clearance. To assess the clinical effects of variable-impedance control, kinetic and kinematic gait data were collected on two drop-foot participants wearing the AAFO. For each participant, zero, constant, and variable impedance control strategies were evaluated and the results were compared to the mechanics of three age, weight, and height matched normals.We find that actively adjusting joint impedance reduces the occurrence of slap foot allows greater powered plantar flexion and provides for less kinematic difference during swing when compared to normals. These results indicate that a variable-impedance orthosis may have certain clinical benefits for the treatment of drop-foot gait compared to conventional ankle-foot orthoses having zero or constant stiff-ness joint behaviors.

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Категория: Научные статьи | Нет комментариев »

The purpose of this study is to build a control system for a wearable power assisting device, which helps people with lifting heavy things, like a person who can’t move alone in daily life. When we lift something heavy, we use both hands. That’s why a con-trol system that can automatically switch on/off without using hands is necessary. In this study, we analyze human lifting up motion, and reveal characteristics of the motion, to find the suitable timing for switching the wearable power assisting device. Results show that the automatic switching can be realized.

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Категория: Научные статьи | Нет комментариев »

The first phase of this project began in Fall 2003 with a team of 5 senior students designing and constructing a hydraulically actuated pick and place machine that can pick up 100 lb objects by hydraulically amplifying the human force. Although the prescribed use of the machine is for landscaping use, the machine is actually intended to be the upper extremity portion of the exoskeleton system.

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Категория: Научные статьи | Нет комментариев »

The invention provides a device and method for wireless material handling systems. The invention further provides an instrumented glove device worn by an operator. A sensory system within the glove device measures the contact force the operator is exerting on either an object to be moved or the material handling system and generates a set of contact signals representing the contact force. The contact signals are transmitted, via a transmitter circuitry, to a controller in another location. The controller receives and processes the signals and generates a set of command signals. The command signals control the speed and mechanical assistance required of an actuator, as a function of the operator contact force, to move the material handling system.

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