Sensor-Controlled Wearable Joint Assistance for Injury Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals performing physically strenuous tasks are at high risk of musculoskeletal injuries due to repetitive activities, leading to reduced work function and quality of life, with existing solutions being inadequate in providing effective protection and performance enhancement.
Innovation Solution
Wearable devices with anchor members and actuators that generate tensile forces to assist joints, incorporating sensors and controllers for tailored assistance, and passive or active elements to provide moments about joints, enhancing performance and reducing injury risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wearable devices with actuators are used to generate tensile forces for joint assistance, then protection against musculoskeletal injuries is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device is divided into multiple independent components including anchor members positioned at different body locations, actuators, and connecting elements. Each component performs a specific function and can be independently controlled, allowing the system to provide targeted assistance to different joints while maintaining overall system manageability despite complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates controllable actuators that dynamically adjust tensile forces based on real-time detection of wearer movement and physiological signals. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt assistance levels to actual needs, improving injury protection while optimizing the complexity-management balance through intelligent rather than purely mechanical solutions
2Productivity
If sensors and controllers are integrated for tailored assistance, then performance enhancement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device integrates sensors that detect wearer movement, posture, and physiological signals, feeding this information to controllers that adjust actuator output in real-time. This closed-loop feedback system enables tailored assistance that enhances performance by adapting to individual wearer needs and conditions, managing complexity through intelligent control algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously monitors wearer conditions and self-adjusts assistance levels without requiring manual intervention. The sensors and controllers work together to automatically detect when assistance is needed and configure the appropriate tensile forces, allowing performance enhancement while keeping the user interface simple and the overall system manageable
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple anchor members are positioned on different body parts, then customization of assistance is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable device uses standardized anchor members that can be positioned at multiple predetermined locations on the body (upper body, lower body, arms, legs). These universal components can accommodate different configurations for various activities and body types, providing customization while maintaining ease of operation through consistent attachment mechanisms and standardized interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Wearable devices protect against musculoskeletal injuries and enhance performance. Systems and methods provide wearable devices to assist with human motion during physical activities, such as performing movements (e.g., lifting) and holding static poses (e.g., crouching, or holding a tool while working overhead). Materials, constructions, and system architectures allow the wearable devices to be worn over, under, or integrated into clothing for extended periods of time to improve performance or reduce risk of injury. Sensors may be included in the wearable devices to detect various activities, motions, and postures of the wearer, and various active and semi-active controls approaches may leverage sensor information to provide tailored assistance to individual users. Various controls optimization techniques ensure the wearable devices operate at peak efficiency.