An exoskeleton device that includes an artificial joint and a frame member extending from the artificial joint. The frame member is configured for extension over a limb of a user. The exoskeleton device also includes a self-aligning mechanism connected to the frame member. The self-aligning mechanism includes three passive degrees of freedom (pDOF) provided in a prismatic-revolute-revolute (PRR) configuration. The self-aligning mechanism also includes a limb attachment member configured for mechanically coupling to a portion of the limb of the user.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a processing system identifies a type of wearable physical augmentation (PA) equipment, determines that a task is to be performed using the PA equipment; and retrieves equipment data regarding the PA equipment and experience data regarding the task. The method also includes analyzing the task to generate a procedure for performing the task; providing the procedure to a user wearing the PA equipment; and transmitting commands to the PA equipment in accordance with the procedure. The method further includes monitoring performance of the task, based on information transmitted by sensors integral to the PA equipment; and modifying, in accordance with the monitoring, the procedure during the performance of the task. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Mechanisms to realize lightweight rotational joints having passive, high torque braking in one or more degrees of freedom are presented herein. In addition, robotic systems incorporating one or more rotational joints with passive, high torque braking as described herein are also presented. Each degree of freedom includes a spring element to preload the braking assembly to maintain high torque braking. The force generated by the spring is multiplied to a much larger force applied to the braking elements by a lever structure and an eccentric mechanism. A human user manually displaces the spring element and effectively reduces braking torque to a desired amount. In a further aspect, a two degree of freedom mechanical shoulder joint and brake device is disposed in a structural path between the harness assembly of an upper body support system and a surface of a working environment.

Waveguides, such as light guides, made entirely of elastomeric material or with indents on an outer surface are disclosed. These improved waveguides can be used in scissors, soft robotics, or displays. For example, the waveguides can be used in a strain sensor, a curvature sensor, or a force sensor. In an instance, the waveguide can be used in a hand prosthetic. Sensors that use the disclosed waveguides and methods of manufacturing waveguides also are disclosed.

This application relates to an actuation system for assistive wearable devices such as exoskeletons designed to actuate a joint of a wearer of the device. The actuation system includes a differential pulley drum having a first drum portion and a second drum portion, the first drum portion and the second drum portion having different radii. The differential pulley drum is located at a first end of the actuator. The actuation system further includes a motor coupled to the differential pulley drum and configured to rotate the differential pulley drum, a second pulley located at a second end of the actuator, a flexible sleeve that extends between the differential pulley drum and the second pulley, and a strand that extends from the differential pulley drum to the second pulley through the flexible sleeve.

Exoskeleton kinematic chain arranged to pivotally connect a first element to a second element, said first element comprising two pivot points A.sub.1 and B.sub.1 located at a distance A.sub.1B.sub.1, said second element comprising two pivot points A.sub.2 and B.sub.2 located at a distance A.sub.2B.sub.2. The exoskeleton kinematic chain comprises a first external link pivotally connected to the first element at the pivot point A.sub.1 and a first end link pivotally connected to the first external link at a pivot point D.sub.1, said pivot point D.sub.1 being located at a distance A.sub.1D.sub.1 by the pivot point A.sub.1. The exoskeleton kinematic chain comprises then a second external link pivotally connected to the second element at the pivot point A.sub.2, and a second end link pivotally connected to the second external link at a pivot point D.sub.2, said pivot point D.sub.2 being located at a distance A.sub.2D.sub.2 by the pivot point A.sub.2. The exoskeleton kinematic chain also comprises a first intermediate link pivotally connected to the first element at the pivot point B.sub.1 and integrally connected to the second end link at a junction point C.sub.2, a second intermediate link pivotally connected to the second element at the pivot point B.sub.2 and integrally connected to the first end link at a junction point C.sub.1. The first and the second end link are pivotally connected to each other at a pivot point M. Defining ==θ, for any value of θ, the projections of the pivot points A.sub.1, B.sub.1, A.sub.2, B.sub.2 in a plane π, lay in a circumference K having center O and radius r=A.sub.1D.sub.1=A.sub.2D.sub.2=D.sub.1B.sub.2=MB.sub.2=D.sub.2B.sub.1=MB.sub.1, in such a way that decreasing the value of θ the first and the second element rotate with respect to each other about an axis z orthogonal to the plane π and passing through the center O in the direction for which the point A.sub.1 is overlapped to the point B.sub.2.

A method for controlling a robot (1) for handling a part to be handled (14), the handling robot (1) being linked to a control interface comprising a glove (40) comprising a first finger (41) provided with a first contact sensor (42) and a second finger (43) provided with a second contact sensor (44), the method comprising the following steps; a) associating, in a signal library (25), a first and a second recorded combination of signals (26, 21); b) acquiring a combination of signals originating from the sensors (26, 27) of the glove (40); c) comparing the acquired combination of signals with the recorded combinations (27, 28, 29) in the library (25); d) controlling the handling robot (1) in such a way as to perform a movement according to the velocity vector associated with the acquired combination of signals. A handling glove (40) and handling device implementing the method.

An embodiment includes an exoskeleton robotic system including: a first linkage; a bearing coupled to the first linkage; a joint including a motor configured to move the first linkage along the bearing; an axial load sensor configured to sense an axial force transmitted to the axial load sensor via the joint, the axial force including one of tension or compression but not torque; a bracket including first and second bracket locations and first and second arms; and a housing that includes at least part of the joint and which couples the bracket to the bearing. The bracket couples to the housing at the first bracket location and couples to the axial load sensor at the second bracket location. The first arm couples the second arm to the first bracket location, and the second arm couples the first arm to the second bracket location.

The invention relates to exoskeletons and artificial muscles for soft exoskeletons (1). The muscle (21, 22, 23, 24) comprises a first (211, 221, 231, 241) and second (212, 222, 232, 242) tendon, each comprising an attachment means (227) for attachment of said muscle to a muscle connector (32) of the exoskeleton (1), and a muscle core (223) made of a deformable material extending between said first (211, 221, 231, 241) and second (212, 222, 232, 242) tendon, the muscle core (223) preferably comprising an outer sleeve (225); wherein each of the first (211, 221, 231, 241) and second tendon (212, 222, 232, 242) is adapted for receiving a respective end of said muscle core (223); wherein the first tendon (211, 221, 231, 241) preferably comprises an actuation interface (229) for connection of said muscle core (223) to an actuator for generating an actuation; wherein the muscle core (223) is adapted to undergo a change in length when being actuated, thereby causing the first (211, 221, 231, 241) and second (212, 222, 232, 242) tendon to move towards each other when said actuation received via the actuation interface is on or increased, and to move away from each other when said actuation is off or reduced.

The present invention provides an infant carrier or article carrier that includes a support part configured to support an infant or an article, a leg part which is in the form of a leg, connected from both directions to the support part through an upper portion, and configured to connect the support part to a bottom surface disposed at a lower portion, a movement assisting part which is disposed above the leg part, connected from both directions to the support part, and configured to distribute the weight of the infant on the support part or the load of the article on the support part to correspond to a movement state of a user and adjust an angle to correspond to the movement state of the user in order to facilitate movement, a knee joint part which is in the form of a knee and has one side surface coupled to the movement assisting part disposed thereabove to allow the angle adjustment corresponding to the movement state and the other side surface coupled to the leg part disposed therebelow, and a bottom surface contact part which has one side surface coupled to one side surface of the leg part and the other side surface allowing the leg part to be stably supported on the bottom surface.