Exoskeleton Shoulder Abutment Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exoskeletons fail to provide effective support and relief for workers engaging in overhead activities, leading to musculoskeletal overload and injury due to inadequate coupling of rotational and translational degrees of freedom, resulting in reduced movement accuracy and increased risk of postural damage.
Innovation Solution
A wearable exoskeleton with a shoulder abutment, armrest, and pelvic support, featuring a flexible back element with adjustable stiffening devices, such as cables or springs, that distribute force from the arm to the back and pelvis, allowing for targeted stiffening and movement support through actuators and sensors to optimize user movement and reduce strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a compact device design is used to reduce device complexity, then the device becomes slimmer and more compact, but movement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested doll by integrating multiple degrees of freedom (rotational and translational) within a compact, body-hugging structure. The kinematic chain is nested along the user's body contours, allowing complex movements to be achieved in a space-efficient manner without sacrificing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional robotic arm designs to a body-hugging exoskeleton that utilizes the human body's three-dimensional space. By mapping translational and rotational degrees of freedom along the body's natural contours, the system achieves high movement accuracy within a compact form factor.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the back element is made flexible to adapt to user movement, then adaptability improves, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The back element is designed with dynamic stiffness properties, allowing it to adapt its rigidity based on operational requirements. The element can flex during user movement to maintain comfort and adaptability, while providing structural strength when needed to support loads and maintain postural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The back element's mechanical properties are changed dynamically during operation. Through actuators and control systems, the stiffness parameter of the back element can be adjusted in real-time, transitioning between flexible and rigid states as required by the task and user position.
3Strength
If stiffening devices are added to the back element to increase strength, then structural strength improves, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening devices are merged with the back element structure rather than being separate add-on components. The reinforcement elements are integrated into the back element's design, combining structural support and stiffening functions into a unified component to minimize overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Stiffening is applied locally to specific regions of the back element where structural strength is most needed, rather than making the entire back element rigid. This localized reinforcement maintains flexibility in other areas while providing targeted support, reducing the overall complexity compared to full rigidification.
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 exoskeleton enhances movement accuracy and reduces musculoskeletal overload by distributing force effectively, enabling workers to perform overhead tasks for extended periods without injury, while maintaining flexibility and adaptability to individual user needs.
Implementation Method 1
The first stiffening device is designed to stiffen the first area-flexible back element in a targeted manner in a bending direction
Implementation Method 2
This exoskeleton can both support and relieve the user by directing the force that occurs on the user's arm to the user's back and pelvis
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to avoid damage caused by overloading for physically working people and to support the execution of actions, an exoskeleton is provided as a support device with a device for implementing rotational and translatory human movements. The exoskeleton, which is coupled to at least one body part of a person, comprises at least one man-technology interface, a device for implementing rotational and translatory human movements and an actuating unit which under certain circumstances is supplemented by a sensor system and a controller.