A new kind of exoskeleton. In the journal Science Robotics In June, researchers from Harvard University (USA) unveiled a flexible and portable system, consisting of a backpack containing an actuation station.
It automatically triggers inflatable textile actuators, placed under the wearer’s shoulders, according to the efforts detected by the various on-board inertial measurement units (IMUs). The objective: to relieve the wearer when he or she regularly or over a long period of time performs drilling or holding objects with his or her arms at height.
Useful for static stains
Laboratory experiments, with and without a robot, demonstrate a reduction in muscle activity thanks to the robot, whether during holding operations, drilling or a circuit composed of various tasks. The researchers assure that during the journey, the system makes few mistakes. And that if it inflates the robot when it is not necessary, the disturbances are minimal for the user. Five workers from an automobile factory tested the exoskeleton on a pilot site. It appears that the robot is useful for static tasks, less so for dynamic ones. And that the comfort of the system is questionable, some finding it acceptable when others want adjustments, particularly on the weight distribution. If the lead is promising, finding the optimal system will require a few more studies.
Source: www.usinenouvelle.com
