Wearable Robot Arm Support Assembly With Segmented Friction Pads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable robots often fail to prevent the arm of a user from slipping when the user performs tasks with the arm supported, making operations difficult and unsafe.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly with a seating member and friction pads that extend in a first direction, featuring recessed areas and alternating seating areas to enhance stability and flexibility, combined with a stretchable material for comfort and ease of movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a support assembly supports the user's arm, then the user can perform tasks with arm support, but the arm may slip from the support assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly incorporates friction pads with high-friction surfaces at specific locations where contact with the arm occurs. These localized high-friction zones prevent slipping while maintaining overall arm movement freedom, as the friction enhancement is applied only where needed rather than throughout the entire support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly is divided into multiple functional segments including friction pads, seating members, and supporting frames. The friction pads are segmented into multiple contact points distributed along the support structure, providing distributed friction forces that prevent slipping while allowing natural arm movement between contact points.
2Ease of manufacture
If the support assembly structure is simplified, then manufacturing becomes easier, but the ability to prevent arm slipping deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The friction pads are implemented as flexible components that can be attached to the support assembly structure. These flexible friction surfaces conform to the arm's shape and movement, providing reliable slipping prevention through friction while maintaining a simple overall structure that is easy to manufacture and assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly combines different materials with complementary properties: high-friction materials for the friction pads to prevent slipping, and lighter, easier-to-manufacture materials for the supporting frame and seating members. This composite approach achieves reliable arm support while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The support assembly effectively prevents arm slipping, enhances user safety and comfort, and improves operational convenience by allowing free movement of the arm while maintaining support.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of friction pads attached to the seating member, each of the plurality of friction pads extending in a first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A support assembly includes a supporting frame, a seating member attached to the supporting frame, and a plurality of friction pads attached to the seating member. The plurality of friction pads extend in a first direction of the seating member and are spaced apart from one another in a direction surrounding an imaginary line extending in the first direction.