AsianScientist (Dec. 1, 2015) – Researchers at Hiroshima University and Daiya Industry Co. Ltd., Japan, have developed the unplugged powered suit (UPS), named for its ability to support human movement without needing any electronic devices. Using a technology called pneumatic gel muscle (PGM), the suit could help improve the quality of life of the elderly and aid sports people.
Traditional assistive equipment for the elderly requires compressors and tanks to exert the power needed to support human motion.
Instead, the UPS consists of three parts: the PGM (drive part), a pump (air pressure for flexing artificial muscle), and pipework (transmission). PGM is light and flexible, and provide support with low air pressure. The pump is equipped in the sole and so uses body weight to drive air to the PGM. Overall, the UPS has a very simple structure, is easy to maintain, and is inexpensive.
“For example, the PGM covers the articulatio coxae [hip joint] and the pump is equipped on the contralateral sole. This arrangement makes it possible to support human hip movement in the swing phase,” said lead researcher Yuichi Kurita, an assistant professor at Hiroshima University.
In sporting activity, the UPS can decrease muscle activity during jogging, and also increase pitch speed. To decrease muscle activation during jogging, PGM in the UPS is equipped along the musculus soleus (calf muscle) and the pump is equipped on the ipsilateral toe. To increase the pitch speed, the PGM in the UPS is equipped along the greater pectoral muscle and the pump is equipped on the contralateral toe.
“The UPS is designed to support human motion where and when needed. It does not contain any heavy devices. This means that we can customize the UPS to the user’s particular needs such as muscle strength for athletes and rehabilitation. In the future, we can develop smarter assistive suits including wearable actuators and sensors by using our technique,” said Kurita.
The UPS will be displayed at the International Robot Exhibition 2015 in Tokyo in December.
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Source: Hiroshima University.
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