WEARABLE ARM SUPPORT

Problem:

Electromechanical support systems or robots in general are high-tech high cost equipment that may not be viable for many day to day applications. High-cost, system complexity and asscociated high failure rates make it hard for high-end robots to penetrate into our daily activities.

Technology:

This art encompasses a low-cost motorless multi-purpose robust wearable unit with wireless activated agile lock-unlock joint mechanisms. There are many human run basic operations that require high level of precision, low cost and minimal risk all at the same time. Surgery, welding, sculpting and many more hand operations may all benefit from a low cost semi-automatic wearable support arm that can improve stability, stamina and precision of the operation with a selanoid-based motorless lock mechanism. The shoulder-locked arm system is composed mostly of mechanical parts with the exception of Bluetooth activation module that triggers the locking relays when the user wishes to fix the arm in the desired position. The wearable mechanical arm has two joints, shoulder and elbow and the wrist of a wearer is free to perform the target operation. It should not have any impact on the freedom of movement until lock command is received. Once locked, the system should assure minimal movement or vibration. The mechanical support arm being fixated at the shoulder relieves the load on the operator and improves overall stability and stamina during the action.

Advantages:

•Low cost 

•Minimal Risk

•Bluetooth activation

Related Publications:

Nomanfar, P., Tekin, A., Bogosyan, S., & Sendur, P. (2019, March). 

Design and Kinematics of 4-DoF Multi-Purpose Wearable Mechanical Arm 

(MUWA) Support for Enhanced Operation Stability. In 2019 

IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics (ICM) 

(Vol. 1, pp. 167-174). IEEE.

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