Exoskeleton with GPS module and a tracking system for the same

Abstract

The invention relates to an exoskeleton comprising at least one body worn on the body of the user, an exoskeleton which is movably and / or fixedly connected to said body and which provides support to at least one of the waist, shoulder, arm and leg regions of the user and which includes multiple support parts that reduce the physical load, and a tracking system that enables the tracking of this exoskeleton. Said exoskeleton comprises at least one GPS module for receiving instantaneous location information and at least one first communication module for wired or wireless communication in connection with said GPS module.

Description

[0001] EXOSKELETON WITH GPS MODULE AND A TRACKING SYSTEM FOR THE SAME

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to an exoskeleton comprising a GPS module and a tracking system comprising the exoskeleton.

[0004] More particularly, the invention relates to an exoskeleton having a GPS-based location tracking feature and a tracking system developed to monitor, analyse and report where and how long this exoskeleton is used in the work area.

[0005] Prior Art

[0006] Exoskeletons are electromechanical or mechanical structures with a wearable external structural mechanism that works in interaction with human limbs. Exoskeletons can be used for different purposes in industrial, military and medical fields and are widely used especially in industrial areas to provide ergonomic advantages such as increasing the physical capabilities of users, supporting load-bearing capacities, increasing occupational safety and preventing musculoskeletal problems caused by long-term physical work.

[0007] The exoskeleton and the systems containing them used in the known state of the art are used in large industrial areas such as warehouses, factories, construction sites, logistics centres. Due to the large size of these areas, it can be quite troublesome to determine the location of an exoskeleton that is usually in active use or to determine which exoskeleton is available. This can lead to limitations and uncontrolled situations in issues such as occupational safety and effective management of field operations.

[0008] As a result, due to the negativities described above and the inadequacy of the existing solutions on the subject, it has become necessary to make a development in the relevant technical field. Objective of the Invention

[0009] The main object of the invention is to develop an exoskeleton comprising a GPS module and a tracking system comprising this exoskeleton.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to develop an exoskeleton and a tracking system comprising the said exoskeleton, which enables the tracking of where the said exoskeleton is used in the work area by means of GPS-based location tracking.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to develop a tracking system which enables the location data of the said exoskeleton to be analysed and reporting to be made when necessary.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to develop an exoskeleton and a tracking system comprising the said exoskeleton, which enables increased occupational safety.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to develop an exoskeleton and a tracking system comprising the exoskeleton, which eliminates limitations in the effective management of field operations.

[0014] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0015] In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the inventive exoskeleton and the tracking system in which this exoskeleton is used are described only for a better understanding of the subject matter.

[0016] The object of the invention is to fulfil the purposes described in the section;

[0017] An exoskeleton, which is suitable for use in industrial and military areas and which includes at least one body, preferably lightweight and durable material, which the user wears on the body; an exoskeleton that is movably and / or fixedly connected to the said body and includes multiple support parts that provide support to at least one of the user's waist, shoulder, arm and leg areas and reduce physical loading;

[0018] — at least one GPS module, preferably located on the body, which receives instantaneous position information of the exoskeleton; and — at least one first communication module providing wired or wireless communication in connection with the mentioned GPS module includes. Thanks to the GPS module mentioned here, the location data of the exoskeleton in use and / or out of use can be collected. In this way, both the exoskeleton and the user using the exoskeleton can be monitored. Said GPS module preferably utilises GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) technology to provide high precision positioning.

[0019] The tracking system developed with the invention includes the following:

[0020] — said exoskeleton comprising at least one body, preferably comprising lightweight and durable material, worn on the body of the user; multiple support parts movably and / or fixedly connected to said body and providing support to at least one of the waist, shoulder, arm and leg regions of the user and reducing the physical load; at least one GPS module, preferably located on the body and receiving instantaneous location information of the exoskeleton, and at least one first communication module connected to said GPS module, providing wired or wireless communication,

[0021] — at least one second communication module wired and / or wirelessly connected to the first communication module in said exoskeleton, at least one memory for storing the instant location data collected by said GPS module, at least one server, preferably a mobile device, containing at least one processor configured to analyse said instant location data and preferably to report the results of the analysis.

[0022] The working principle of the invention is that the GPS module in the exoskeleton actively collects the location information of the exoskeleton. In this way, the position of the exoskeleton can be easily determined even when the exoskeleton is not in use. The collected position data is transferred to the second communication module and the server via the first communication module. While the aforementioned position data continues to be transmitted instantaneously, it is also stored in memory and shows the real-time position of the user / exoskeleton on the server. The processor analyses the location history and generates information such as the areas in which the user is working, the duration and intensity of the work, and generates a report of this information if requested by the user. In this way, both the location of the exoskeletons is tracked in real time, which exoskeleton is in use is determined, and the work intensity of the exoskeletons is monitored. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said server comprises at least one display which enables the real-time location of the user or exoskeleton to be monitored and / or displayed on a map and / or reports such as work intensity / efficiency to be displayed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said exoskeleton comprises at least one warning module which provides an audible and / or illuminated warning to the user. Thanks to the said warning module, the user is instantly notified in case the exoskeleton moves out of the working area. The processor of the said tracking system contains predetermined working area information of the working areas of the exoskeletons and is configured to analyse the real-time location information of the exoskeletons, compare it with the predetermined working area information, generate a warning signal for the exoskeleton going out of the working area and transmit the warning signal to the said warning module. In this way, safety risks are minimised and occupational safety is ensured. In particular, limiting the working areas of exoskeletons in large work areas in factories makes it easier to monitor exoskeletons and users. It is very difficult to monitor whether the user goes out of the work area during work. In this case, the user is warned by the warning module on the exoskeleton.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An exoskeleton that includes at least one body worn on the body of the user; multiple support parts that are movably and / or fixedly connected to said body and provide support to at least one of the user's waist, shoulder, arm and leg regions and reduce physical loading, is characterised in that it includes at least one GPS module that receives instant location information and at least one first communication module that is connected to said GPS module and provides wired or wireless communication.

2. An exoskeleton, according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises at least one warning module for providing an audible and / or illuminated warning to a user.

3. A tracking system, characterised by comprising:— said exoskeleton comprising at least one body worn on the body of the user; multiple support parts movably and / or fixedly connected to said body and providing support to at least one of the waist, shoulder, arm and leg regions of the user and reducing physical load; at least one GPS module receiving instantaneous location information and at least one first communication module providing wired or wireless communication in connection with said GPS module,— at least one second communication module wired and / or wirelessly connected to the first communication module in said exoskeleton, at least one memory for storing the instantaneous location data collected by said GPS module, at least one server containing at least one processor configured to analyse said instantaneous location data.

4. A tracking system, according to claim 3, characterised in that said server is a mobile device.

5. A tracking system, according to claim 3, characterised in that said processor is configured to enable reporting of analysis results.

6. A tracking system, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one display that enables real-time location of said user orexoskeleton to be monitored and / or displayed on a map and / or reports such as work intensity / efficiency to be displayed.

7. A tracking system, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said processor comprises predetermined workspace information of the workspaces of the exoskeletons, and is configured to analyse the real-time position information of the exoskeletons and compare it with the predetermined workspace information, and to generate a warning signal for the exoskeleton going out of the workspace, and to transmit the warning signal to said warning module.