Interface for an exoskeleton
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exoskeletons interfere with user motion, fail to adapt to individual dimensions, provide unilateral assistance, and limit movement to a single range of motion, leading to discomfort and reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The exoskeleton design features separate left and right frame members that contour laterally, minimizing body contact and heat buildup, allowing for multiple degrees of motion assistance, and distributing pressure effectively through a 3-point linkage system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional exoskeletons use a single central frame structure, then structural simplicity is maintained, but user comfort deteriorates due to heat buildup and interference with natural motion
Solution Approach 1:
The exoskeleton frame is divided into separate left and right frame members that contour laterally around the user's torso. This segmentation reduces body contact and heat buildup while allowing natural motion, directly resolving the contradiction between user comfort and structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If exoskeletons provide unilateral assistance, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates as they fail to accommodate individual dimensions and multiple motion planes
Solution Approach 1:
The exoskeleton incorporates multiple actuators that can independently control different degrees of freedom and planes of motion. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to various user dimensions and motion requirements, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The exoskeleton system is designed to provide assistance in multiple planes and degrees of motion through its multi-actuator configuration, making it universally applicable to different users and task requirements while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.
3Stability of the object's composition
If exoskeletons use extensive body contact for stability, then stability is improved, but heat buildup increases and comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the frame into separate lateral members that contour around the torso, the system maintains stability through strategic contact points while minimizing overall body contact, thereby reducing heat buildup and improving comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame members are designed to contour laterally around the user's torso, creating a flexible adaptation to body shape that maintains stability without requiring extensive rigid contact, thus reducing heat accumulation.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface system includes a support belt, a strap assembly, and a frame system. The frame system includes a first frame member and a second frame member. The first frame member and the second frame member each respectively have an upper attachment portion configured to have an assistive device attached thereto at a first shoulder mount assembly and a second shoulder mount assembly, respectively. The first frame member and the second frame member are each respectively connected to the strap assembly and extend downward contouring laterally and connecting to the support belt. The first frame member and the second frame member contour laterally in opposed directions. The first frame member is connected posteriorly to the second frame member through a pair of hinge arms joined at a pivot connection.