P2K Suit Differential Assembly for Gait Resistance Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing human assistance devices, such as exoskeletons and soft exosuits, often cause restriction and discomfort due to their rigid or complex designs, leading to inefficiencies in motion and increased risk of injury during physical labor tasks.
Innovation Solution
A passive personal augmentation suit (P2K suit) with a differential assembly and elastic strapping system that stores potential energy during transitions like crouching or kneeling, releasing it to assist in upright motions, thereby reducing effort and strain without resistance during gait.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rigid exoskeleton with linkages and joints is used to provide motion assistance, then the ability to augment human movements is improved, but the restriction to user's motion and impedance of natural movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid exoskeleton linkages and joints with flexible strapping elements that wrap around the user's body. These flexible straps can stretch and conform to natural body movements, providing motion assistance without restricting the user's range of motion or impeding natural movement patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The exosuit employs dynamic elastic strapping elements that can adapt their stiffness and tension based on the user's movement phase. The elastic straps naturally stretch during movement and provide assistance forces, while allowing full freedom of motion when not engaged in lifting tasks, thus resolving the contradiction between assistance and restriction.
2Productivity
If a soft exosuit with sensors and actuators is used to generate forces about joints, then the control and assistance capability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs passive elastic strapping elements that automatically provide motion assistance without requiring active sensors or actuators. The elastic straps naturally store and release energy during movement, providing assistance forces based on the user's motion phase without electronic control systems, thereby eliminating device complexity while maintaining assistance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces active mechanical systems with sensors and actuators with passive elastic mechanical elements. The elastic strapping elements use material elasticity and geometric configuration to provide controlled assistance forces, substituting complex electronic-mechanical systems with simpler passive mechanical principles.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the exosuit is worn for long periods during various functions including gait, then the endurance support is improved, but the resistance during gait causes discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different functional characteristics to different parts of the exosuit. The elastic strapping elements are configured to provide assistance forces during lifting tasks while being positioned and tensioned to minimize resistance during gait. This localized functional differentiation allows the exosuit to be worn for extended periods without causing discomfort during normal walking.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic strapping elements are designed to engage and disengage periodically based on the user's movement phase. During gait, the straps are configured to minimize engagement and resistance, while during lifting tasks, they provide active assistance. This periodic engagement pattern allows for long-duration wear without continuous resistance causing discomfort.
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 P2K suit enhances endurance, reduces fatigue, and decreases the risk of injury by providing ergonomic support and comfortable motion assistance during heavy lifting and repetitive tasks without the discomfort of resistance.
Implementation Method 1
A passive personal augmentation suit (P2K suit) with a differential assembly and elastic strapping system that stores potential energy during transitions like crouching or kneeling, releasing it to assist in upright motions
Data Source
AI summary
A human motion assistance device has upper back straps and is configured to attach to a user. A leg strap arrangement with lower back straps is configured to attach to the user. A differential assembly is connected between the upper back straps and lower back straps to reduce resistance of the upper torso harness and leg strap arrangement during gait. When crouching or lifting, the differential assembly transfers force to stretch and retract the upper torso harness and leg strap arrangement, which provides human motion assistance. The differential assembly can be implements as an x-bar, lever arm, pulley, gears, or tube. The leg strap arrangement has a knee pad adapted to cover a knee of the user. The knee pad opens along a segment. The upper torso harness has a shoulder strap and buckle. The leg strap arrangement is an elastic material.