Wearable Robot Auditory Feedback Torque Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable robot devices primarily rely on visual displays to inform users of augmented force, making it difficult for users to understand force levels and changes without direct observation, and visual cues may not be easily interpretable.
Innovation Solution
A wearable robot device with an audible feedback system that outputs sounds of varying frequency, strength, and tone based on the required torque, allowing users to perceive force augmentation through auditory cues, with different sound profiles for different operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual display is used to notify user of augmented force, then information can be displayed, but user cannot easily understand the amount and change when not directly observed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the visual display system with an acoustic feedback system. The controller generates sound signals whose frequency, amplitude, and tone vary according to the augmented force level, allowing users to perceive force information through hearing rather than sight. This substitution enables continuous awareness of force augmentation without requiring visual attention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sound as an intermediary medium to convey force information. Instead of directly displaying numerical or graphical force data that requires visual processing, the system translates force magnitude into audible sound characteristics, creating an intermediate sensory channel that more intuitively communicates force levels to the user.
2Loss of information
If visual display is used to show force amount, then information is provided, but user may not easily understand the meaning of numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the parameter representation of force information from numerical values to acoustic parameters. The controller maps force magnitude to sound frequency, amplitude, and tone characteristics, creating a more intuitive perceptual scale. Users can naturally understand relative force levels through pitch and volume variations without needing to interpret numerical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the visual-numerical information channel with an acoustic-perceptual channel. By converting force data into sound waves with varying characteristics, the system enables direct sensory perception of force magnitude and changes, eliminating the cognitive processing required to interpret numerical displays.
3Loss of information
If audible feedback is added to the wearable robot device, then user awareness of force augmentation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the audible feedback function into the existing wearable robot controller, allowing the same controller to perform both torque calculation and sound generation. The speaker component serves as a multi-functional element that provides both operational feedback and force level indication, reducing the need for separate dedicated components and minimizing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the force feedback function with the existing control system by integrating the sound generation capability into the controller. The controller simultaneously processes sensor data to determine required torque and generates corresponding sound signals, merging multiple functions into a single processing unit and reducing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable robot device includes a frame, a detector provided on the frame for collecting information on a force applied from a user, a controller for determining a required amount of torque necessary for an operation of the wearable robot device based on the information collected by the detector, and for determining a sound corresponding to the required amount of torque, and an output unit for outputting the determined sound.