Soft Exoskeleton Artificial Muscle Structure for Lightweight Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exoskeletons are heavy, bulky, and rigid, limiting mobility and comfort, and lack the ability to provide complex movements and biofeedback, making them inefficient and uncomfortable for users.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight and compact artificial muscle system for soft exoskeletons, featuring deformable muscle cores and tendons with actuation interfaces, allowing for external actuation and biofeedback through a control module and signal module system, enabling ergonomic support and intuitive user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional exoskeletons use rigid metal architecture and electromotor actuators, then structural strength is improved, but weight increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid metal structures with flexible textile-based exoskeleton components. The artificial muscles are integrated into a soft, wearable textile structure that provides sufficient mechanical support through distributed tension and compression zones, eliminating the need for heavy metal frames while maintaining structural integrity during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes traditional electromotor actuators with artificial muscle elements that convert electrical or pneumatic signals directly into mechanical contraction and expansion. This substitution eliminates heavy motor housings, gear systems, and power transmission mechanisms, significantly reducing overall system weight while providing adequate actuation force.
2Power
If conventional exoskeletons use large electromotor actuators and battery packs, then power output is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the actuation function from large electromotor assemblies and implements it through distributed artificial muscle elements integrated directly into the textile structure. This extraction allows power generation components to be miniaturized and positioned strategically at muscle attachment points rather than requiring large centralized motor housings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the actuator, power transmission, and structural support functions into a single integrated textile artifact. The artificial muscles are woven or attached directly to the exoskeleton fabric, combining multiple functional elements into one compact structure that provides both actuation and structural support without separate heavy components.
3Strength
If conventional exoskeletons use rigid metal structure, then load bearing capacity is improved, but comfort and ergonomics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible textile structure that conforms to the user's body contours, providing ergonomic comfort while maintaining load-bearing capacity through distributed structural reinforcement. The textile material allows natural skin movement and breathing while supporting external loads through its engineered tension-compression architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic exoskeleton structure that adapts its stiffness and support characteristics in real-time based on user movement and load conditions. The artificial muscles actively adjust tension and compression forces during different phases of movement, providing optimal support when needed and maximum flexibility during passive movement, thereby enhancing both comfort and load-bearing performance.
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 solution provides enhanced mobility, comfort, and ergonomic support, allowing the exoskeleton to be integrated into workwear and enabling complex movements while providing users with intuitive biofeedback, improving user experience and reducing the risk of joint damage.
Implementation Method 1
the muscle core is adapted to undergo a change in length when being actuated, thereby causing the first and second tendon to move towards each other when said actuation is on or increased, and to move away from each other when said actuation is off or reduced
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to exoskeletons and artificial muscles for soft exoskeletons (1). The muscle (21, 22, 23, 24) comprises a first (211, 221, 231, 241) and second (212, 222, 232, 242) tendon, each comprising an attachment means (227) for attachment of said muscle to a muscle connector (32) of the exoskeleton (1), and a muscle core (223) made of a deformable material extending between said first (211, 221, 231, 241) and second (212, 222, 232, 242) tendon, the muscle core (223) preferably comprising an outer sleeve (225); wherein each of the first (211, 221, 231, 241) and second tendon (212, 222, 232, 242) is adapted for receiving a respective end of said muscle core (223); wherein the first tendon (211, 221, 231, 241) preferably comprises an actuation interface (229) for connection of said muscle core (223) to an actuator for generating an actuation; wherein the muscle core (223) is adapted to undergo a change in length when being actuated, thereby causing the first (211, 221, 231, 241) and second (212, 222, 232, 242) tendon to move towards each other when said actuation received via the actuation interface is on or increased, and to move away from each other when said actuation is off or reduced.