Powered exoskeleton
A powered exoskeleton (also known as power armor, powered armor, powered suit, exoframe, hardsuit, or exosuit)[1] is a wearable mobile machine that is powered by a system of electric motors, pneumatics, levers, hydraulics, or a combination of technologies that allow for limb movement with increased strength and endurance.[2] Its design aims to provide back support, sense the user's motion, and send a signal to motors which manage the gears. The exoskeleton supports the shoulder, waist and thigh, and assists movement for lifting and holding heavy items, while lowering back stress.[3]
A powered exoskeleton differs from a passive exoskeleton in the fact that a passive exoskeleton is not powered by a system of electric motors, pneumatics, levers, hydraulics, or a combination of technologies. However, similar to a powered exoskeleton, it does give mechanical benefits to the user.[4][5]
History
The earliest-known exoskeleton-like device was an apparatus for assisting movement developed in 1890 by Russian engineer Nicholas Yagn. It used energy stored in compressed gas bags to assist in movement, although it was passive and required human power.[6] In 1917, United States inventor Leslie C. Kelley developed what he called a pedometer, which operated on steam power with artificial ligaments acting in parallel to the wearer's movements.[7] This system was able to supplement human power with external power.
In the 1960s, the first true 'mobile machines' integrated with human movements began to appear. A suit called Hardiman was co-developed by General Electric and the US Armed Forces. The suit was powered by hydraulics and electricity and amplified the wearer's strength by a factor of 25, so that lifting 110 kilograms (240 lb) would feel like lifting 4.5 kilograms (10 lb). A feature called force feedback enabled the wearer to feel the forces and objects being manipulated.
The Hardiman had major limitations, including its 680-kilogram (1,500 lb) weight.[8] It was also designed as a master-slave system: the operator was in a master suit surrounded by the exterior slave suit, which performed work in response to the operator's movements. The response time for the slave suit was slow compared to a suit constructed of a single layer, and bugs caused "violent and uncontrollable motion by the machine" when moving both legs simultaneously.[9] Hardiman's slow walking speed of 0.76 metres per second (2.5 ft/s or just under 2 mph) further limited practical uses, and the project was not successful.[10]
At about the same time, early active exoskeletons and humanoid robots were developed at the Mihajlo Pupin Institute in Yugoslavia by a team led by Prof. Miomir Vukobratović.[11] Legged locomotion systems were developed first, with the goal of assisting in the rehabilitation of paraplegics. In the course of developing active exoskeletons, the Institute also developed theory to aid in the analysis and control of the human gait. Some of this work informed the development of modern high-performance humanoid robots.[12] In 1972, an active exoskeleton for rehabilitation of paraplegics that was pneumatically powered and electronically programmed was tested at Belgrade Orthopedic Clinic.[12]
In 1985, an engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory proposed an exoskeleton called Pitman, a powered suit of armor for infantrymen.[13] The design included brain-scanning sensors in the helmet and was considered too futuristic; it was never built.[14]
In 1986, an exoskeleton called the Lifesuit was designed by Monty Reed, a US Army Ranger who had broken his back in a parachute accident.[15] While recovering in the hospital, he read Robert Heinlein's science fiction novel Starship Troopers, and Heinlein's description of mobile infantry power suits inspired Reed to design a supportive exoskeleton. In 2001, Reed began working full-time on the project, and in 2005 he wore the 12th prototype in the Saint Patrick's Day Dash foot race in Seattle, Washington.[16] Reed claims to have set the speed record for walking in robot suits by completing the 4.8-kilometre (3 mi) race at an average speed of 4 kilometres per hour (2.5 mph).[17] The Lifesuit prototype 14 can walk 1.6 km (1 mi) on a full charge and lift 92 kg (203 lb) for the wearer.[18]
Applications
Medical
Powered exoskeletons can improve the quality of life of individuals who have lost the use of their legs by enabling system-assisted walking.[19] Exoskeletons—that may be called "step rehabilitation robots"—may also help with the rehabilitation from stroke, spinal cord injury or during aging.[20] Several prototype exoskeletons are under development.[21][22] The Ekso GT, made by Ekso Bionics, is the first exoskeleton to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for stroke patients.[23] The German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence has developed two general purpose powered exoskeletons, CAPIO[24][25] and VI-Bot.[26] These are primarily being used for teleoperation. Exoskeleton technology is also being developed to enhance precision during surgery,[27] and to help nurses move and carry heavy patients.[28]
Military
Developing a full-body suit that meets the needs of soldiers has proven challenging. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched the Warrior Web program[29] in September 2011[30] and has developed and funded several prototypes, including a "soft exosuit" developed by Harvard University's Wyss Institute.[31] In 2019, the US Army's TALOS exoskeleton project was put on hold.[32] A variety of "slimmed-down" exoskeletons have been developed for use on the battlefield, aimed at decreasing fatigue and increasing productivity.[33] For example, Lockheed Martin's ONYX suit aims to support soldiers in performing tasks that are "knee-intensive", such as crossing difficult terrain.[34] Leia Stirling's group has identified that exoskeletons can reduce a soldier's response times.[35]
Civilian
Exoskeletons are being developed to help firefighters and other rescue workers to climb stairs carrying heavy equipment.[36]
Industry
Passive exoskeleton technology is increasingly being used in the automotive industry, with the goal of reducing worker injury (especially in the shoulders and spine) and reducing errors due to fatigue.[37][38] They are also being examined for use in logistics.[39]
These systems can be divided into two categories:[40]
- exoskeletons for upper-limb for assisting shoulder flexion-extension movements;
- exoskeletons for lumbar support for assisting manual lifting tasks.
For broadest application, industrial exoskeletons must be lightweight, comfortable, safe, and minimally disruptive to the environment.[41] For some applications, single-joint exoskeletons (i.e. intended to assist only the limb involved in specific tasks) are more appropriate than full-body powered suits.[41] Full-body powered exoskeletons have been developed to assist with heavy loads in the industrial setting,[42][43] and for specialized applications such as nuclear power plant maintenance.[44]
The biomechanical efficacy of exoskeletons in industrial applications is however still largely unknown. Companies have to conduct a risk assessment for workplaces at which exoskeletons are to be used. The Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance has developed a draft risk assessment for exoskeletons and their use. The safety assessment is based on diverse experience including machine safety, personal protective equipment and risk analysis of physical stresses at work. The exoskeletons available on the market often fail to give adequate consideration to safety aspects, in some cases despite claims to the contrary by their manufacturers.[45]
Products
Powered
- Japet Exoskeleton is a powered lower-back exoskeleton for work and industry based on established passive braces. It aims at restoring the capacities of co-workers as it postpones fatigue, relieves pain and follows the user's movements.
- Parker Hannifin's Indego Exoskeleton is an FDA-Cleared, electrically powered support system for legs that helps spinal cord injury patients and stroke patients walk.[46][47]
- ReWalk features powered hip and knee motion to enable those with lower limb disabilities, including paraplegia as a result of spinal cord injury (SCI), to perform self-initiated standing, walking, and stair ascending and descending.[48] ReStore, a simpler system by the same manufacturer, attaches to a single leg to assist with gait retraining, and was approved by the FDA in 2019.[48]
- Ekso Bionics's EskoGT is a hydraulically powered exoskeleton system allowing paraplegics to stand and walk with crutches or a walker.[49] It was approved by the FDA in 2019.[23]
- SuitX's Phoenix is a modular, light and cheap exoskeleton, powered by a battery backpack that allows paraplegics to walk at up to 1.8 kilometres per hour (1.1 mph).[50]
- Cyberdyne's HAL is a wearable robot that comes in multiple configurations.[51] HAL is currently in use in Japanese and US hospitals and was given global safety certification in 2013.[22][52]
- Honda's Walking Assist Device is a partial exoskeleton to help those with difficulties walking unsupported. It was given pre-market notification by the FDA in 2019.[53]
- The European Space Agency has developed a series of ergonomic exoskeletons for robotic teleoperation, including the EXARM, X-Arm-2 and SAM exoskeletons. The target application is telemanipulation of astronaut-like robots, operating in a remote harsh environment.[54]
- In 2018, Spanish exoskeleton provider Gogoa Mobility was the first European company to get a CE approval for their powered lower body HANK exoskeleton for medical use.[55] The CE approval covered the use of HANK for rehabilitation due to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Acquired Brain Damage (ABD) & Neurodegenerative Illnesses. In Feb 2020, their knee specific exoskeleton called Belk also received a CE approval.
- Roam Robotics produces a soft exoskeleton for skiers and snowboarders.[56]
- Wandercraft produces Atalante, the first powered exoskeleton to allow users to walk hands-free, unlike most powered medical exoskeleton that require the simultaneous use of crutches.[57]
Passive
- SuitX BackxS
- SuitX BackX AC
- SuitX Shoulderx
- Laevo
- SkelEx[58]
Projects on hold/abandoned
- Lockheed Martin's Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC) was abandoned after tests showed that wearing the suit caused users to expend significantly more energy during controlled treadmill walks.[59]
- Sarcos/Raytheon XOS Exoskeleton arms and legs were originally designed for use in the military.[60] In 2019, the project was reported to be on hold.[59]
- The Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton (BLEEX) consisted of mechanical metal leg braces, a power unit, and a backpack-like frame to carry a heavy load.[61] The technology developed for BLEEX led to SuitX's Phoenix.[62]
- A project from Ghent University, WALL-X was shown in 2013 to reduce the metabolic cost of normal walking. This result was achieved by optimizing the controls based on the study of the biomechanics of the human-exoskeleton interaction.[63]
Limitations and design issues
Mobility aids are frequently abandoned for lack of usability.[64] Major measures of usability include whether the device reduces the energy consumed during motion, and whether it is safe to use. Some design issues faced by engineers are listed below.
Power supply
One of the biggest problems facing engineers and designers of powered exoskeletons is the power supply.[65] This is a particular issue if the exoskeleton is intended to be worn "in the field", i.e. outside a context in which the exoskeleton can be tethered to a power source. Batteries require frequent replacement or recharging,[65] and may risk explosion due to thermal runaway.[66]
Internal combustion engine power supplies offer high energy output, but problems include exhaust fumes, heat and inability to modulate power smoothly.[67] Hydrogen cells have been used in some prototypes[68] but also suffer from several problems.[69]
Skeleton
Early exoskeletons used inexpensive and easy-to-mold materials, such as steel and aluminium. However, steel is heavy and the powered exoskeleton must work harder to overcome its own weight, reducing efficiency. Aluminium alloys are lightweight, but fail through fatigue quickly.[70] Fiberglass, carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes have considerably higher strength per weight.[71] "Soft" exoskeletons that attach motors and control devices to flexible clothing are also under development.[72]
Actuators
Joint actuators also face the challenge of being lightweight, yet powerful. Technologies used include pneumatic activators,[56] hydraulic cylinders,[73] and electronic servomotors.[74] Elastic actuators are being investigated to simulate control of stiffness in human limbs and provide touch perception.[75] The air muscle, a.k.a. braided pneumatic actuator or McKibben air muscle, is also used to enhance tactile feedback.[76]
Joint flexibility
The flexibility of human anatomy is a design issue for traditional "hard" robots. Several human joints such as the hips and shoulders are ball and socket joints, with the center of rotation inside the body. Since no two individuals are exactly alike, fully mimicking the degrees of freedom of a joint is not possible. Instead, the exoskeleton joint is commonly modeled as a series of hinges with one degree of freedom for each of the dominant rotations.[64]
Spinal flexibility is another challenge since the spine is effectively a stack of limited-motion ball joints. There is no simple combination of external single-axis hinges that can easily match the full range of motion of the human spine. Because accurate alignment is challenging, devices often include the ability to compensate for misalignment with additional degrees of freedom.[77]
Soft exoskeletons bend with the body and address some of these issues.[78]
Power control and modulation
A successful exoskeleton should assist its user, for example by reducing the energy required to perform a task.[64] Individual variations in the nature, range and force of movements make it difficult for a standardized device to provide the appropriate amount of assistance at the right time. Algorithms to tune control parameters to automatically optimize the energy cost of walking are under development.[79][80] Direct feedback between the human nervous system and motorized prosthetics ("neuro-embodied design") has also been implemented in a few high-profile cases.[81]
Adaptation to user size variations
Humans exhibit a wide range of physical size differences in both skeletal bone lengths and limb and torso girth, so exoskeletons must either be adaptable or fitted to individual users. In military applications, it may be possible to address this by requiring the user to be of an approved physical size in order to be issued an exoskeleton. Physical body size restrictions already occur in the military for jobs such as aircraft pilots, due to the problems of fitting seats and controls to very large and very small people.[82] For soft exoskeletons, this is less of a problem.[78]
Health and safety
While exoskeletons can reduce the stress of manual labor, they may also pose dangers.[1] The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called for research to address the potential dangers and benefits of the technology, noting potential new risk factors for workers such as lack of mobility to avoid a falling object, and potential falls due to a shift in center of gravity.[83]
As of 2018, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration was not preparing any safety standards for exoskeletons. The International Organization for Standardization published a safety standard in 2014, and ASTM International was working on standards to be released beginning in 2019.[1]
See also
- Back brace: somewhat similar devices as passive exoskeletons
- Bionics
- Future Force Warrior
- List of emerging technologies
- List of films featuring powered exoskeletons
- Mecha
- Walking truck, also known as the "cybernetic anthropomorphous machine"
References
- Ferguson, Alan (September 23, 2018). "Exoskeletons and injury prevention". Safety+Health Magazine. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- Blake McGowan (2019-10-01). "Industrial Exoskeletons: What You're Not Hearing". Occupational Health & Safety. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
- Li, R.M.; Ng, P.L. (2018). "Wearable Robotics, Industrial Robots and Construction Worker's Safety and Health". Advances in Human Factors in Robots and Unmanned Systems. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing. 595: 31–36. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-60384-1_4. ISBN 9783319603834.
- Koopman, Axel S.; Kingma, Idsart; Faber, Gert S.; de Looze, Michiel P.; van Dieën, Jaap H. (23 January 2019). "Effects of a passive exoskeleton on the mechanical loading of the low back in static holding tasks" (PDF). Journal of Biomechanics. 83: 97–103. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.11.033. ISSN 0021-9290. PMID 30514627.
- Bosch, Tim; van Eck, Jennifer; Knitel, Karlijn; de Looze, Michiel (1 May 2016). "The effects of a passive exoskeleton on muscle activity, discomfort and endurance time in forward bending work". Applied Ergonomics. 54: 212–217. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2015.12.003. ISSN 0003-6870. PMID 26851481.
- Yagin, Nicholas. "Apparatus for Facilitating Walking". U.S. Patent 440,684 filed February 11, 1890 and issued November 18, 1890.
- Kelley, C. Leslie. "Pedomotor". U.S. Patent 1,308,675 filed April 24, 1917 and issued July 1, 1919.
- "Final Report On Hardiman I Prototype For Machine Augmentation Of Human Strength And Endurance" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. August 30, 1971. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Keller, Mike (August 25, 2016). "Do You Even Lift, Bro? Hardiman Was GE's Muscular Take On The Human-Machine Interface". GE Reports. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- Bellis, Mary. "Exoskeletons for Human Performance Augmentation". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
- Baldovino, Renann; Jamisola, Rodrigo, Jr. (2017). "A survey in the different designs and control systems of powered-exoskeleton for lower extremities" (PDF). Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Biomechanics, Rational Publication. 1 (4): 103–115. doi:10.24243/JMEB/1.4.192.
- Vukobratovic, Miomir K. (February 7, 2017). "When Were Active Exoskeletons Actually Born?" (PDF). Robotics Laboratory. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
- Hecht, Jeff (1986-09-25). Armour-suited warriors of the future. Issue 1527: New Scientist. p. 31.CS1 maint: location (link)
- Pope, Gregory T. (December 1, 1992). "Power Suits". Discover Magazine. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- "Giving the Gift of Walking – a 501 C3 nonprofit". They Shall Walk. 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
- Richman, Dan (March 11, 2005). "Man's dream is that Lifesuit will help paralyzed walk again". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Reed, Monty K. (January 21, 2011). "Paralyzed Man Walks Again: Thanks to LIFESUIT prototype". They Shall Walk. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Monty K Reed (October 10, 2014). "LIFESUIT Exoskeleton Gives the Gift of Walking so They Shall Walk". IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC 2014). IEEE: 382–385. doi:10.1109/GHTC.2014.6970309. ISBN 9781479971930.
- Ashley, Steven (February 21, 2017). "Robotic exoskeletons are changing lives in surprising ways". NBC News. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Reuters (April 12, 2017). "One step at a time: Rehabilitation robots that will keep 'elderly' mobile". The Express Tribune. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Moore, Elizabeth Armstrong (March 15, 2011). "HAL-5: The exoskeleton robot 'to suit you'". CNET. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Osbun, Ashley (February 8, 2019). "Patients Walk Again with the HAL Exoskeleton". Electronic Component News. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Strickland, Eliza (September 30, 2016). "Demo: The Ekso GT Robotic Exoskeleton for Paraplegics and Stroke Patients". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Dormehli, Luke (November 15, 2016). "Wearable exoskeleton lets researchers in Russia control a robot in Germany". Digital Trends. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- "Capio". Robotics Innovation Center—DFKI. 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
- "VI-Bot". Robotics Innovation Center—DFKI. 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
- Franco, Michael (March 15, 2017). "Hand-mounted exoskeleton system helps surgeons get a grip". New Atlas. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Gilhooly, Rob (17 June 2012). "Exoskeletons await in work/care closet". The Japan Times Online. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
- "Warrior Web". Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- RBR Staff (2015-02-21). "Ekso Selected to Participate in Warrior Web Task B". Robotics Business Review. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
- Kusek, Kristen (September 11, 2014). "The $3 million suit". Harvard Gazette. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Egozi, Arie (May 24, 2019). "SOCOM's Iron Man Must Die, So Iron Man Spinoffs Might Live". Breaking Defense. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Adams, Eric (June 28, 2018). "Power-multiplying exoskeletons are slimming down for use on the battlefield". Popular Science. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- Santana, Marco (January 4, 2019). "Lockheed Martin shows off Orlando-built exoskeleton tech for U.S. Army". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- "Leia Stirling leads study on exoskeletons and decision making". Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology. October 4, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
- Ridden, Paul (April 18, 2018). "Auberon exoskeleton takes the strain out of firefighting in towering infernos". New Atlas. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Marinov, Borislav (May 15, 2019). "Passive Exoskeletons Establish A Foothold In Automotive Manufacturing". Forbes. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Stuart, S. C. (June 18, 2018). "Checking Out Ford's Factory Floor Exoskeletons". PC Magazine. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- "Exoskeletons for Logistics". VIL. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- Spada, Stefania; Ghibaudo, Lidia; Gilotta, Silvia; Gastaldi, Laura; Cavatorta, Maria Pia (1 July 2018). "Analysis of Exoskeleton Introduction in Industrial Reality: Main Issues and EAWS Risk Assessment". Advances in Physical Ergonomics and Human Factors. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing. 602. pp. 236–244. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-60825-9_26. ISBN 9783319608242. ISSN 2194-5357.
- Voilqué, Anthony; Masood, Jawad; Fauroux, J.C.; Sabourin, Laurent; Guezet, Olivier (March 25, 2019). "Industrial Exoskeleton Technology: Classification, Structural Analysis, and Structural Complexity Indicator". 2019 Wearable Robotics Association Conference (WearRAcon): 13–20. doi:10.1109/WEARRACON.2019.8719395. ISBN 97815386-80568.
- Looze, Michiel P. de; Bosch, Tim; Krause, Frank; Stadler, Konrad S.; O’Sullivan, Leonard W. (May 3, 2016). "Exoskeletons for industrial application and their potential effects on physical work load". Ergonomics. 59 (5): 671–681. doi:10.1080/00140139.2015.1081988. hdl:10344/5646. ISSN 0014-0139. PMID 26444053.
- Haridy, Rich (January 3, 2019). "Battery-powered, full-body exoskeleton lets users lift 200 pounds". New Atlas. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Hornyak, Tim (June 2, 2014). "Panasonic's robotic exoskeletons could help nuclear plant workers". Computerworld. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- "Exoskeletons". IFA. Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- Alexander, Dan (15 April 2015). "Innovation Factory: How Parker Hannifin Pumps Out Breakthrough Products". Forbes. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- Freeman, Danny (July 1, 2019). "Exoskeleton Device Donated to San Diego VA Will Help Rehabbing Vets". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Fanning, Paul (October 11, 2012). "Bionic exoskeleton could transform lives of paraplegics". Eureka!. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Jacobs, Melissa (May 2019). "Through the Help of a Robotic Exoskeleton, a Collegeville Man Gets a Chance to Walk Again". Main Line Today. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Brewster, Signe (February 1, 2016). "This $40,000 Robotic Exoskeleton Lets the Paralyzed Walk". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- Maloney, Dan (January 28, 2019). "The Cyborgs Among Us: Exoskeletons Go Mainstream". Hackaday. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- "Japan's Robot Suit Gets Global Safety Certificate". IndustryWeek. Agence France-Presse. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- Davies, Chris (January 10, 2019). "Honda's exoskeleton is one (assisted) step closer to launch". SlashGear. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- "The ESA Exoskeleton". European Space Agency. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- "Gogoa Mobility Robots announces CE Mark Approval for HANK Exoskeleton". Business Insider. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- Ackerman, Evan (March 6, 2018). "Roam Robotics Announces $2500 Soft Exoskeleton For Skiers and Snowboarders". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- Dent, Steve (27 September 2017). "Wandercraft's exoskeleton was made to help paraplegics walk". Engadget. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- Claeys, Tina (7 October 2019). "Magazijnen struikelen nog over exoskeletten". Value Chain (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- Cornwall, Warren (October 15, 2015). "Feature: Can we build an 'Iron Man' suit that gives soldiers a robotic boost?". American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- "Raytheon unveils lighter, faster, stronger second generation exoskeleton robotic suit". Raytheon. September 27, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Yang, Sarah (March 3, 2004). "UC Berkeley researchers developing robotic exoskeleton that can enhance human strength and endurance". University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Affairs, Public; Berkeley, U. C. (February 4, 2016). "UC Berkeley exoskeleton helps the paralyzed to walk". University of California. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Malcolm, Philippe; Derave, Wim; Galle, Samuel; De Clercq, Dirk; Aegerter, Christof Markus (13 February 2013). "A Simple Exoskeleton That Assists Plantarflexion Can Reduce the Metabolic Cost of Human Walking". PLOS ONE. 8 (2): e56137. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...856137M. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056137. PMC 3571952. PMID 23418524.
- Näf, Matthias B.; Junius, Karen; Rossini, Marco; Rodriguez-Guerrero, Carlos; Vanderborght, Bram; Lefeber, Dirk (September 1, 2018). "Misalignment Compensation for Full Human-Exoskeleton Kinematic Compatibility: State of the Art and Evaluation". Applied Mechanics Reviews. 70 (5): 050802. Bibcode:2018ApMRv..70e0802N. doi:10.1115/1.4042523. ISSN 0003-6900.
- Meeting the Energy Needs of Future Warriors. National Academies Press. 31 August 2004. p. 40. ISBN 9780309165761. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- Liebscher, Alysha; Gayman, Gary (December 26, 2018). "Preventing Thermal Runaway in Electric Vehicle Batteries". Machine Design. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Yellow Magpie (May 1, 2013). "Exoskeleton Suit Problems That Need To Be Overcome". Yellow Magpie. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- Kantola, Kevin (January 26, 2010). "HULC Robotic Exoskeleton Powered by Hydrogen Fuel Cell". Hydrogen Cars Now. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- "Hydrogen Storage Challenges". Energy.gov. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- Frumento, Christopher; Messier, Ethan; Montero, Victor (2010-03-02). "History and Future of Rehabilitation Robotics" (PDF). Worchetser Polytechnic Institute. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
- Kerns, Jeff (January 8, 2015). "The Rise of the Exoskeletons". Machine Design. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- Heater, Brian (July 18, 2017). "ReWalk Robotics shows off a soft exosuit designed to bring mobility to stroke patients". TechCrunch. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- "Military exoskeletons uncovered: Ironman suits a concrete possibility". Army Technology. January 29, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- Ferris, Daniel P.; Schlink, Bryan R.; Young, Aaron J. (2019-01-01), "Robotics: Exoskeletons", in Narayan, Roger (ed.), Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering, Elsevier, pp. 645–651, ISBN 9780128051443
- Siegel, R. P. (April 8, 2019). "Robotic Fingers Are Learning How to Feel". Design News. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- "Glove powered by soft robotics to interact with virtual reality environments". ScienceDaily. May 30, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- Näf, Matthias B.; Koopman, Axel S.; Baltrusch, Saskia; Rodriguez-Guerrero, Carlos; Vanderborght, Bram; Lefeber, Dirk (June 21, 2018). "Passive Back Support Exoskeleton Improves Range of Motion Using Flexible Beams". Frontiers in Robotics and AI. 5. doi:10.3389/frobt.2018.00072. ISSN 2296-9144.
- Davis, Steve (June 26, 2016). "Forget Iron Man: skintight suits are the future of robotic exoskeletons". The Conversation. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- Collins, Steve (June 22, 2017). "Exoskeletons Don't Come One-Size-Fits-All ... Yet". Wired. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- Arbor, Ann (June 5, 2019). "Open-source bionic leg: First-of-its-kind platform aims to rapidly advance prosthetics". University of Michigan News. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- Wakefield, Jane (July 8, 2018). "Exoskeletons promise superhuman powers". BBC. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- Cote, David O.; Schopper, Aaron W. (1984-07-01). "Anthropometric Cockpit Compatibility Assessment of US Army Aircraft for Large and Small Personnel Wearing a Cold Weather, Armored Vest, Chemical Defense Protective Clothing Configuration" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
- Zingman, Alissa; Earnest, G. Scott; Lowe, Brian D.; Branche, Christine M. (June 15, 2017). "Exoskeletons in Construction: Will they reduce or create hazards?". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Powered exoskeletons. |
- Video, images and articles about the Bleex exoskeleton project
- University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)—Exo Arm Project
- Wired Issue 13.01, January 2005—Ironmen, the world's first exoskeleton weight-lifting competition
- Video and abstract about the GAIT Robotic Orthosis (via IEEE Xplore)
- SARCOS Military Humanoid Exoskeleton (YouTube)