Exoskeleton Boot Power Layout for Natural Motion and Low Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exoskeletons often interfere with the natural motion of the body, require cumbersome power cables, and suffer from power inefficiencies due to distant battery locations, leading to increased mass and potential snag hazards.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered active exoskeleton with a local battery module integrated near the knee, coupled with advanced battery management and water-resistant design, allowing for efficient power delivery and reduced interference with natural motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a distant battery location is used in the exoskeleton system, then the overall device can be simpler to manufacture, but power losses increase and power delivery efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The power system is segmented into distributed battery modules located at multiple positions (ankle, knee, hip) rather than using a single distant battery. This segmentation reduces power loss by placing power sources closer to the actuators while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Power delivery is optimized by providing local battery modules at specific locations (ankle, knee, hip) close to the actuators. This local quality approach ensures minimal power loss for each actuator while the overall system maintains coherence through centralized control.
2Power
If a battery module is integrated near the knee, then power delivery efficiency improves and power losses are minimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into multiple independent modules distributed at different locations (ankle, knee, hip). Each module independently manages power for its local actuators, improving power delivery efficiency while the modular design keeps complexity manageable through standardized interfaces and control protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery modules are designed with universal interfaces and standardized communication protocols that work across different locations and actuator configurations. This multi-functionality allows the same module design to serve multiple purposes, reducing overall system complexity despite the distributed architecture.
3Ease of operation
If power cables are used to connect distant battery to actuators, then the system can be simpler, but snag hazards increase and mobility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The power cables are extracted from the system by replacing them with wireless power transmission technology. This eliminates the physical cables that cause snag hazards and restrict mobility, while the exoskeleton maintains full power delivery capability through wireless energy transfer from distributed battery modules to actuators.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining a level of collaboration between a user and an exoskeleton boot are provided. A device, using an exoskeleton boot, can provide a level of force to a limb of a user to aide movement of the limb. The device can measure one or more parameters of the exoskeleton boot during the movement of the limb using the exoskeleton boot. The device can determine one or more biometrics of the user during the movement of the limb using the exoskeleton boot. The device can determine, based on the one or more biometrics and the one or more parameters of the device, a metric indicative of a collaboration between the user and the exoskeleton boot during the movement.