Back-Support Exoskeleton With Passive Joints for Stable Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exoskeletons for reducing back load and musculoskeletal injuries suffer from instability and discomfort due to misalignment between the exoskeleton and the user's body, leading to reduced effectiveness and limited mobility.
Innovation Solution
An exoskeleton design with precise anchoring points at the iliac crests and a frame configuration that includes passive and motorized joints, allowing for automatic alignment and continuous adjustment to fit various body sizes, ensuring stable and comfortable wear without the need for kinematic compensation mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the exoskeleton uses fixed anchoring points and rigid frame structure, then the force transmission is efficient, but the misalignment with user's body causes instability and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed rigid connections with passive joints that allow automatic adaptation. The passive joints enable the frame to dynamically adjust its configuration relative to the user's body movements, maintaining stable contact without requiring active control systems. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the structure to be both force-efficient and adaptively stable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of joint rigidity by introducing passive joints with specific degrees of freedom. These joints allow controlled movement in certain directions while maintaining structural integrity in others, enabling the exoskeleton to adapt to varying body positions while preserving force transmission efficiency through the rigid frame segments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the exoskeleton uses multiple adjustment mechanisms to fit various body sizes, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing passive joints that automatically adapt to the user's body dimensions without requiring manual adjustment mechanisms. The joints self-adjust their position and orientation based on the user's anatomy and movement, eliminating the need for complex adjustment systems while maintaining high adaptability across different body sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic nature of the passive joints allows the exoskeleton to automatically conform to different body sizes through controlled movement and adaptation during wear, rather than requiring pre-adjustment to fixed positions. This dynamic adaptation simplifies the device while maintaining versatility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the exoskeleton uses kinematic compensation mechanisms to maintain alignment, then the stability is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced due to limited mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses passive joints that provide dynamic adaptation without active compensation mechanisms. These joints naturally accommodate user movement through their inherent degrees of freedom, maintaining alignment stability while preserving full user mobility. The system adapts to the user's motion rather than restricting it, eliminating the need for complex kinematic compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using active mechanisms to force the exoskeleton to compensate for user movement, the patent inverts the approach by allowing the passive joints to naturally follow and adapt to the user's movement. This passive adaptation strategy maintains stability without interfering with the user's natural mobility patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
Exoskeleton configured to be worn by a user, comprising a waist anchoring device (100, 110) for anchoring to the user's waist, a torso anchoring device (101) for anchoring to the user's torso, a thigh anchoring device for anchoring to the user's thighs, the waist anchoring device (100, 110) being connected to the torso anchoring device (101) through an upper frame, and to the thigh anchoring device for anchoring to the user's thighs through a lower frame.At least one actuation unit is further present, which is configured to generate an assistive torque.Said actuation unit is positioned at the height of the user's waist.