Copyright © Françoise Herrmann
For humans, an exoskeleton (with the Greek prefix exo-, meaning “outer”, in contrast to the prefix endo- meaning “inner”) is a robotic brace, suit or vest, designed to support a person’s own endoskeleton, or parts thereof. Exoskeleton applications exist both in medicine and industry. The research is also funded by the US Arny.
In industry, for example at the Ford Motor Company assembly line, robotic exoskeleton vests called Eksovests are used to assist workers who have to perform repetitive overhead movement with their arms.
In the construction industry, metal exosuits, such as for example the Ekso Works Industrial Exoskeleton, are used to give workers robotic upper body strength for lifting and carrying heavy loads, or for operating power tools.
In the construction industry, metal exosuits, such as for example the Ekso Works Industrial Exoskeleton, are used to give workers robotic upper body strength for lifting and carrying heavy loads, or for operating power tools.
In medicine, robotic exoskeletons bring much hope and/or an upright view of the world to victims of stroke, disease or accidents, in particular to patients, who for one reason or another cannot walk or experience great difficulty walking. For example, in pediatric medicine, robotic exoskeleton braces exist for children with cerebral palsy. The robotic braces provide motorized knee extension in view of alleviating the children’s crouch (or flexed- knee) gait, which otherwise risks preventing them from walking in adulthood. Post-stroke victims also benefit from robotic exoskeleton training for gait rehabilitation, using such exoskeletons as the H2.
For a very high price ($40,000), exoskeleton suits, such as SuitsX, a spinoff developed at UC Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory, also enable paraplegic patients to walk, offering an opportunity to stand up and see others eye to eye, to stretch and extend limbs in view of avoiding sores and other wheelchair side effects. Finally, in geriatric medicine, exoskeletons such as Superflex, an SRI International spinoff, are designed to enhance elderly mobility, and to effectively compete with walkers.
For a very high price ($40,000), exoskeleton suits, such as SuitsX, a spinoff developed at UC Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory, also enable paraplegic patients to walk, offering an opportunity to stand up and see others eye to eye, to stretch and extend limbs in view of avoiding sores and other wheelchair side effects. Finally, in geriatric medicine, exoskeletons such as Superflex, an SRI International spinoff, are designed to enhance elderly mobility, and to effectively compete with walkers.
As one of several companies developing exoskeletons, Ekso Bionics has an extensive portfolio of patented technologies. In particular, the US patent application, US20130231595A1, titled Human Machine interface for human exoskeleton recites a robotics invention addressing mobility. A robotics invention that notably addresses how the exoskeleton can be driven by sensors which read and anticipate the user's movements, in contrast to exoskeletons which are activated manually with onboard buttons, or joysticks. For Ekso Bionics, robotic sensing of the user's movement (in turn actuating the robotic exoskeleton) vs manual control, is really what enhances the experience of walking.
The abstract of this patent application is included below, together with figure 1 of the patent drawings, showing a user coupled to an exoskeleton equipped with robotic walking asistance.
[Abstract US20130231595A1]A powered exoskeleton configured to be coupled to lower limbs of a person is controlled to impart a movement desired by the person. The intent of the person is determined by a controller based on monitoring at least one of positional changes in an arm portion of the person, positional changes in ahead of the person, an orientation of a walking aid employed by the person, a contact force between a walking aid employed by the person and a Support Surface, a force imparted by the person on the walking aid, a force imparted by the person on the walking aid, a relative orientation of the exoskeleton, moveable components of the exoskeleton and the person, and relative velocities between the exoskeleton, moveable components of the exoskeleton and the person.
References
Ekso bionics
www.eksobionics.com
Ekso Bionics - EksoWorks, EksoVest, EksoZeroG,
https://eksobionics.com/eksoworks/
Ekso Bionics - EksoWorks, EksoVest, EksoZeroG,
https://eksobionics.com/eksoworks/
Ford Pilots exoskeletons to lessen the chance of worker fatigue and injury
Thilmany, J. (Feb. 15, 2018) Exoskeletons for construction workers are marching on site
Knight, W. (July 16, 2017) The Exoskeletons are coming
Brewster, S. (June 3, 2016) The elderly may toss their walkers for this robotic suit. MIT Technology Review.
NIH Robotic exoskeleton offers potential new approach to alleviating crouch gait in children with cerebral palsy
NIH Director’s Laboratory – Robotic exoskeleton could be right step forward for kids with cerebral palsy
Bortole, A., Venkatakrishnan,A., Zhu, F., Moreno, J. C., Francisco, G.E., Pons, J. L., & J.L. Contrerasa-Vidal (2015)
The H2 robotic exoskeleton for gait rehabilitation after stroke: early findings from a clinical study. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2015; 12: 54.
Brewster, S. (Feb. 1, 2016) This $40,000 Robotic Exoskeleton Lets the Paralyzed Walk. MIT Technology Review.
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