Hybrid Artificial Muscle for Bidirectional Exoskeleton Support

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing artificial flexible exoskeletons struggle to simultaneously provide structural support and aiding force during active joint movements, limiting their practicality in medical rehabilitation applications.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatic and cable-driven hybrid artificial muscle is developed, comprising a pneumatic actuator, a pneumatic pressure regulating assembly, and a cable actuation assembly. This hybrid system leverages the stiffness of the pneumatic actuator for substantial actuation force and the cable actuation for bidirectional pulling force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If pneumatic artificial muscles are used to provide pushing force, then substantial actuation force is achieved, but structural rigidity and compression capability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuation forceVSAvoidstructural rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines pneumatic artificial muscles with rigid structural support assemblies to create a hybrid system. The pneumatic muscles provide actuation force while the rigid structural components provide necessary support and compression capability, resolving the contradiction between soft actuation and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite construction by integrating flexible pneumatic muscle materials with rigid structural materials. This composite approach allows the system to simultaneously exhibit the compliance and force generation of pneumatic muscles and the structural integrity of rigid materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If cable-driven muscle actuators are used for bidirectional joint motion, then pulling force is provided, but structural rigidity is insufficient and cannot serve as structural support

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebidirectional motion capabilityVSAvoidstructural support capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges cable-driven actuation mechanisms with rigid structural support assemblies. The cable-driven components enable bidirectional motion and pulling force, while the integrated rigid structural components provide the necessary support capability that cable-driven actuators alone cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If flexible exoskeletons use soft artificial muscles, then flexibility and comfort are improved, but structural support capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidstructural support force

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a hybrid exoskeleton system that combines flexible soft artificial muscles with rigid structural support assemblies. The flexible components provide comfort and adaptability, while the rigid structural components provide necessary support force, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and structural capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 hybrid artificial muscle effectively provides substantial actuation force and bidirectional aiding force, ensuring safety in human-machine interaction and enhancing the capability of artificial exoskeletons to support joint movements in both directions.

Implementation Method 1

The pneumatic pressure regulating assembly is connected to the pneumatic actuator to regulate air pressure in the pneumatic actuator for controlling the pneumatic actuator to extend or contract

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure regulation: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The pneumatic pressure regulating assembly includes a high-pressure pump connected to the air chamber for inflating air into the chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic actuation: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

a vacuum pump connected to the chamber for evacuating air from the chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum evacuation: Vacuum

Implementation Method 4

The cable actuation assembly comprises a cable fixedly connected to the pneumatic actuator for controlling the pneumatic actuator to contract

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCable tension: Tension

Data Source

PatentUS12241487B2Pneumatic and cable-driven hybrid artificial muscle

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

AI summary

This invention discloses a pneumatic and cable-driven hybrid artificial muscle, comprising pneumatic actuator, pneumatic pressure regulating assembly, and cable drive assembly. The pneumatic pressure regulating assembly is connected to the pneumatic actuator to regulate air pressure in the pneumatic actuator for controlling the pneumatic actuator to extend or contract. The cable actuation assembly comprises a cable fixedly connected to the pneumatic actuator for controlling the pneumatic actuator to contract. In this invention, the artificial muscle employs a dual pneumatic and cable actuation mechanism. By leveraging the inherent stiffness of the pneumatic actuator, it can provide substantial actuation force for joint movement. Simultaneously, the cable actuation assembly can provide significant pulling force, effectively ensuring safety in human-machine interaction and offering sufficient bidirectional aiding force to individuals with disabilities who use the artificial muscle as an aiding actuation device.