Preloaded Elastic Straps for Passive Human Motion Augmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing human assistance devices, such as exoskeletons and soft exosuits, often restrict natural movement, are complex and expensive to manufacture, and have low reliability due to their reliance on active components and intricate interconnections, leading to inefficiencies and increased risk of injury during strenuous tasks.
Innovation Solution
A passive personal augmentation suit (P2K) utilizing preloaded elastic straps and blocks that store potential energy during movement transitions, providing passive support and reducing strain on muscles and joints without active components, allowing for more natural and fluid motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid exoskeleton with linkages and joints is used to provide mechanical support, then the ability to augment human movements is improved, but the range of motion is restricted and natural movement is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid linkages and joints with flexible elastic straps and blocks that can dynamically adapt to body movements. The elastic straps flex and deform to accommodate natural range of motion while still providing mechanical support through their elastic properties, eliminating the restriction caused by rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the mechanical parameters from rigid (infinite stiffness) to flexible (finite, variable stiffness). The elastic straps provide support force that dynamically adjusts based on deformation, allowing the system to maintain strength while adapting to various positions and movements without restricting range of motion.
2Strength
If a soft exosuit with sensors and actuators is used to generate forces at joints, then the ability to assist human motion is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex active components (sensors, actuators, control systems) from the exosuit design. Instead of using intelligent control systems to generate joint forces, the invention uses passive elastic elements that inherently provide the necessary forces through their mechanical properties, dramatically simplifying the device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic straps and blocks serve themselves without external control systems. The pre-loaded elastic elements automatically provide the necessary support forces through their inherent elastic properties, eliminating the need for sensors to detect forces and actuators to respond, thereby reducing device complexity to its essentials.
3Strength
If a soft exosuit with sensors and actuators is used to control operation, then the ability to assist human motion is improved, but the response speed decreases and reliability reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electronic control system (sensors + actuators + control algorithms) with a purely mechanical passive system using pre-loaded elastic straps and blocks. This substitution eliminates the computational delays and electronic failures inherent in active systems, providing immediate mechanical response and higher reliability through simple, robust mechanical components.
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 injury risk by releasing stored energy to assist in lifting and bending tasks, improving ergonomics and comfort while maintaining reliability and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
preloaded elastic straps and blocks that store potential energy during movement transitions
Implementation Method 2
utilizing preloaded elastic straps and blocks that store potential energy during movement transitions
Data Source
AI summary
A human motion assistance device has an upper torso harness and a preloaded leg strap arrangement affixed to the upper torso harness. The preloaded leg strap arrangement has an X-bracket connected to the upper torso harness. The preloaded leg strap arrangement further uses a plurality of blocks and a preloaded strap routed through the blocks and connected to the X-bracket. The preloaded leg strap arrangement further uses a knee pad with a split seam. The preloaded strap is under tension, even when the human motion assistance device is in a relaxed state. The preloading provides an immediate force which increases under a loaded state. The potential energy stored during the loaded state is released when transitioning from a standing position to a crouched, squatting, or seated position. The configuration allows for maximizing the energy storage without putting excess shoulder pressure on the user when standing.