Comparative analysis of exoskeletal actuators

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send Grzegorz Redlarski , Krzysztof Blecharz , Mariusz Dąbkowski , Aleksander Pałkowski , Piotr Mateusz Tojza Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology

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Abstract

Since the beginning of the development of exoskeletons in the early 1960s there was a constant need for improving their actuators technology. Requirements for high power and torque for the lower body and very high precision for the hand motion, while maintaining the flexibility of biological muscles, are still not fully satisfied. The problem lies not just in the lack of appropriate actuator technology, but also in the inability to meet their energy needs. This paper contributes to this problem, first by describing the most commonly used technologies and then by presenting simulation results for lower limb exoskeleton motion. In addition the energy requirements of the modeled devices and their control possibilities along with their usage in various parts of the exoskeleton construction are analyzed.

Keywords

actuator, artificial muscle, energy source, exoskeleton, modeling

Analiza porównawcza urządzeń wykonawczych w egzoszkieletach

Streszczenie

Od czasu rozpoczęcia prac badawczych nad egzoszkieletami na początku lat 60. ubiegłego wieku, istniała ciągła potrzeba udoskonalania technologii związanej z urządzeniami wykonawczymi egzoszkieletów. Wymóg spełnienia zapotrzebowania na dużą mocą i moment dla kończyn dolnych oraz wysokiej precyzji dla ruchów rąk, przy jednoczesnym zachowaniu giętkości mięśni biologicznych, nie został dotychczas zachowany. Problemem nie jest tylko brak odpowiednich technologii, ale również niemożność spełnienia zapotrzebowania energetycznego. W artykule nawiązano do tego zagadnienia, opisując najczęściej stosowane technologie, a następnie przedstawiając wyniki symulacji dla ruchu egzoszkieletu kończyny dolnej. Dodatkowo przeanalizowano wymogi energetyczne modelowanego układu, możliwości sterowania, jak również możliwe zastosowanie dla różnych części egzoszkieletu.

Słowa kluczowe

egzoszkielet, modelowanie, sztuczne mięśnie, urządzenia wykonawcze, źródło energii

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