Upper Limb Support Arm Using Bio-Signal Guided Cooperative Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hemiplegic individuals face challenges in performing cooperative motions with both hands during desktop tasks like cooking, leading to reduced work efficiency and accuracy, and existing welfare equipment is not suitable for practical use due to its bulkiness and requirement for multiple tools, with limited recovery of upper limb functions.
Innovation Solution
A compact and lightweight upper limb motion support apparatus with an articulated arm, environment imaging, biological signal detection, and a controller that recognizes the operator's intentions and motions to perform coordinated tasks, including action pattern classification and real-time adjustment of the end effector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional welfare equipment is used to assist hemiplegic persons, then the degree of difficulty of work can be lowered, but all work is conducted on the nonparalytic side and concentration of workload cannot be avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a robot arm as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between the hemiplegic person's intention and actual execution. The robot arm executes tasks on the paralyzed side while being controlled by the unaffected hand, serving as a mediator that enables balanced workload distribution without requiring the person to physically perform tasks with the paralyzed limb
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures motion data from the unaffected hand and creates a virtual model or copy of the intended motion trajectory. This copied motion information is then used to control the robot arm, allowing the person's intention to be replicated on the paralyzed side without direct physical involvement
2Weight of moving object
If a robot arm is designed to be compact and lightweight for portability, then the work area on the nonparalytic side will not be narrowed, but durability for practical use may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs advanced materials with changed physical parameters (such as high-strength-to-weight ratio materials like carbon fiber or aluminum alloys) to achieve the desired balance between lightweight construction and durability. By changing material parameters, the robot arm maintains structural integrity while minimizing weight
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pieces of welfare equipment are used to perform different tasks, then various work requirements can be met, but it is necessary to constantly carry a plurality of pieces of equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm is designed as a universal device capable of performing multiple different tasks through a single system. By equipping the robot arm with interchangeable end effectors or programmable control, it can adapt to various work requirements (cooking, cleaning, writing, etc.) without requiring separate specialized devices for each task
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
Significantly enhances work efficiency and reduces workload by allowing the apparatus to follow the operator's intentions and perform coordinated motions with the unaffected hand, improving quality of life and social involvement.
Implementation Method 1
a biological signal detection unit that detects electric potential as a biological signal generated in association with the upper limb motion of the operator
Data Source
AI summary
An upper limb motion support apparatus and an upper limb motion support system which are capable of significantly improving the enhancement of an operator's work efficiency and the reduction of their workload are proposed. A controller which causes an articulated arm and an end effector to perform three-dimensional motion according to the operator's intention based on a biological signal acquired by a biological signal detection unit causes the articulated arm and the end effector to perform cooperative motion in conjunction with the operator's upper limb motion by referring to content recognized by an upper limb motion recognition unit.