Design of Exoskeletons Using Musculoskeletal Analysis - Case A: Arm Curl with Dumbbell

Introduction:
In this work, we present the use of musculoskeletal analysis for designing an upper-limb exoskeleton. Four different case studies are performed to study the effect of using a simplified exoskeleton on the muscle loading for arm curl with dumbbell. The simulation results showed that with the use of exoskeleton significant reductions in both, individual muscle forces and elbow flexion moment are achievable. The results also showed that the exoskeleton applied-torque synchronization with the required torque is important for the performance of the device. Prior approaches to exoskeleton designs used a more qualitative designer assessment to describe performance and/or fit. This engenders the usual limitations inherent to any semi- quantitative/qualitative design methodology including lack of invariances etc. In contrast, musculoskeletal analysis provide rational basis for biomechanically quantifying the performance of a candidate exoskeleton design and thus in turn provides a means for quantitatively comparing alternate designs. Nevertheless, the resulting copious amounts of raw quantitative data need to be further processed to extract useful metrics. Careful assessment of the quality, sensitivity and most importantly usability, of both the raw information and extracted metrics, is the focus of our current research.

For more info, visit:
1. http://mechatronics.eng.buffalo.edu
2. http://armlabrobotics.blogspot.com/

Upload on 8/28/2010

Category:

Education

Tags:

• musculoskeletal
• UB
• ARMLAB
• MAE
• Design
• Exoskeletons
• 2010
• IDETC CIE Best Paper