Recently, It has become a rapidly aging society. Coupled with a decrease in the number of farmers, this has becomes a serious problem in agriculture. Agricultural work includes a great deal of heavy work and special work postures, imposing a large physical strain on farmers. Therefore, we developed the Wearable Agri-Robot, which was designed as an exoskeletal mechanism to assist in the wearer’s work. This study evaluates the degree of freedom realized by forcusing on the range of motion of the joints. Using this method, we evaluated the articular structure of the Wearable Agri-Robot. We investigated the possibility of using it to assist in agricultural work by analyzing the motion required for thie type of work. In this work, we narrowed down the intended operations to the harvesting of Japanese radishes, and validated the effect of the Wearable Agri-Robot on the wearer using myoelectric potential measurement. As a result, it was ascertained that wearing the Wearable Agri-Robot could alleviate the burden on wearer by assisting with agricultural work.

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This paper describes a structural design technique for rehabilitation robot intended for upper-limb post-stroke therapy. First, a novel approach to a rehabilitation robot is proposed and the features of the robot are explained. Second, the direct kinematics and the inverse kinematics of the proposed robot structure are derived. Finally, a mechanical design procedure is explained that achieves a compromise between the required motion range and assuring the workspace safety. The suitability of a portable escort type structure for upper limb rehabilitation of both acute and chronic stroke is discussed.

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This article describes the design and development of a thimble-sensor used for virtual object manipulation. This thimble is specially designed to provide the force information applied on an object by using four FlexiForce sensors and a fingertip orientation. Likewise, the aim of this paper is focused on the mechanical design, which relies on developing an adjustable mechanical tool non-finger-size dependant.

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Motivation and voluntary drive of patients can be improved by applying biofeedback during robot-assisted rehabilitation trainings. Biofeedback systems were traditionally based on theoretical assumptions. In this paper, we present a novel approach to calculate biofeedback during robot-assisted gait training. Our method was based on empirical data that were obtained from healthy subjects when simulating distinctive degrees of walking performance during robot-assisted gait training. This empirical data-based biofeedback (EDBF) method was evaluated with 18 subjects without gait disorders. A higher correlation between the subjects’ walking performance and biofeedback values was found for the EDBF method compared to a theory-based biofeedback approach.

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iPAM is a dual robot system developed at the University of Leeds to assist people with stroke who have moderate to severe arm weakness undertake active exercises. If the system is to be adopted in into routine clinical practice, it is essential that it is accepted by people with stroke and their treating therapists. This paper presents results of a formal evaluation of the acceptance of this system as part of rehabilitation treatment for the perspective of the patient and therapist. The aim of the study was to assess user acceptance of iPAM in terms of usability, safety, comfort and desire for future use with the context of using it as part of their treatment program. 16 participants with a range of arm impairments took part in an evaluation of the usability of the system. The study involved up to 20 hour long sessions of robot mediated exercise over the course of five to seven weeks. Results show a high level of acceptance across the participants, with patients feeling safe and comfortable when using the iPAM system and demonstrating a willingness to use the system as part of their rehabilitation treatment. Six practising therapists reported some enthusiasm for its use as an adjunctive treatment but identified issues such as cost and mechanisms to embed use of the system within the UK National Health Service infrastructure.

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