Prosthetic Shock Absorber with Terrain-Adaptive Damping Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing prosthesis and exoskeleton shock absorbers require complex adjustments for optimal damping properties, which can be challenging for beginners or the elderly, leading to suboptimal performance and potential deterioration in gait quality, especially in uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A prosthesis or exoskeleton component with a controllable shock absorber system, equipped with an identification device that uses sensors to detect uneven ground conditions and adjust damping properties in real-time, allowing for automatic adaptation to terrain changes without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustment options are provided for damping properties, then adaptability to different terrain conditions is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber system automatically detects terrain conditions using sensors and adjusts damping properties without user intervention. The control device monitors terrain parameters and autonomously modifies damping forces, eliminating the need for manual adjustment mechanisms while maintaining high adaptability to varying terrain conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms are replaced with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect terrain conditions and electronically controls damping elements. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical adjustment components while providing continuous adaptability through electronic control of damping forces.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustment options are provided for damping properties, then adaptability to different terrain conditions is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs terrain detection and damping adjustment automatically without requiring user actions. Sensors continuously monitor terrain conditions and the control device autonomously modifies damping properties, making the system as easy to operate as simply wearing the prosthesis while maintaining full adaptability to terrain variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively detects terrain conditions ahead of time using sensors and pre-adjusts damping properties before the user encounters difficult terrain. This preliminary action ensures optimal damping is already in place when needed, eliminating the need for reactive manual adjustments and maintaining seamless ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of damping properties is required, then adaptability to terrain conditions can be achieved, but loss of time and productivity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber system automatically detects terrain conditions and adjusts damping properties in real-time without requiring user intervention. This continuous automated adjustment eliminates time loss associated with manual reconfiguration, allowing the prosthesis to adapt instantly to changing terrain conditions while the user continues moving without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous terrain monitoring and damping adjustment throughout use, ensuring uninterrupted adaptability to changing conditions. Sensors continuously detect terrain parameters and the control device continuously modifies damping forces, eliminating the stop-start nature of manual adjustments and maintaining continuous optimal performance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If shock absorber is dimensioned for extreme damping capability, then adaptability to extreme terrain conditions is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber uses dynamically controllable damping elements that can adjust their damping characteristics in real-time based on detected terrain conditions. This dynamic capability allows a single lighter shock absorber to provide extreme damping when needed on difficult terrain while maintaining light weight for normal conditions, replacing the need for an overly dimensioned static shock absorber.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes damping parameters dynamically based on terrain detection. Sensors monitor terrain conditions and the control device modifies damping forces by changing operational parameters of the damping elements, allowing the same physical shock absorber to deliver varying levels of damping from light to extreme as needed, eliminating the weight penalty of designing for maximum extreme conditions.
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
Enables simple and convenient adjustment of damping properties to match terrain conditions, ensuring ideal damping and stability, even in complex environments, while reducing the need for frequent user adjustments and potentially allowing for a smaller, lighter shock absorber design.
Implementation Method 1
at least one reception unit for contactless capture of at least one signal and, in particular, a signal that is influenced by at least one area of uneven ground
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthetic or exoskeleton component for a prosthesis or exoskeleton includes a shock-absorbing unit. The shock-absorbing unit contains a damping device that can be controlled by way of a control device. A detection device has a sensor unit for receiving a signal. The detection device is configured to detect uneven ground depending on the acquired signal and to control the damping device in response to the detected uneven ground such that a damping property of the damping device can be adjusted on the basis of a signal of the detection device.