This paper describes the process of a team of mechanical engineering students in designing and simulating an easy to wear argumentation exoskeleton device. The goal of the project is to develop a fundamental technology associate with the design and control of an upper-body exoskeleton that augments human arm strength and endurance during lifting motion. The technology is intended to be used by military soldiers who are required to frequently lift more than 100 pounds objects, such as heavy machinery, tank ammunition, etc.

This proof of concept design focus on providing and supporting both arms with considerable strength to lift more than 100lb objects. A powered exoskeleton is a skeleton-like framework worn by a person and assisted by a power source that supplies the energy for limb movement. Exoskeletons can be regarded as wearable robots.  This mechatronic system is designed around the shape and function of the human body, with joints corresponding to those of the person it is internally coupled with. Powered exoskeletons are primarily built to assist or protect the wearer.  They could also be designed for police officers, work in rescue operations after disasters or working in toxic environments. The uses are limitless, and an exoskeleton could provide benefits in nearly any field.  This paper focuses on designing and simulating a complete wearable vest with the purpose of increasing the arm strength and have a nearly full range of basic motion of the arms. Some of the features of this exoskeleton include wearable, light weight, portable, and sturdy which can be subjected to heavy load. The exoskeleton devise consists of three parts: the wearable body vest has an enclosure to cover all of the components and straps to hold the vest tight onto the human torso, the powered cables can extend or retract, which is actuated by EMG sensors attached to bicep muscles, and the sensing system consists of EMG sensors and an Arduino control system. 

During the service period, military soldiers must lift heavy objects many times a day, which requires high energy consumption and high strength of the arms. The constant lift heavy objects cause injuries and low efficiency. With this wearable exoskeleton device, the soldier’s injuries will be reduced, their lifting performance will be increased, and the work efficiency is also increased.

This paper will discuss how the wearable exoskeleton device is developed and discuss how the performance and efficiency of such device are evaluated.


Design an Augmentation Exoskeleton to Enhance Lifting Strength

Division / Sponsors: 
Aerospace, Bioengineering, Applied Mechanics, Design Engineering Division, Advanced Energy Systems, Manufacturing Engineering Division, Noise Control and Acoustics, Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Prognosis (NDPD), Nuclear Engineering Division, Process Industries Division, Fluids Engineering, Heat Transfer, Materials, Microelectromechanical Systems, Safety Engineering and Risk Analysis, Computers & Information in Engineering


Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/IMECE/IMECE2020/volume/84478

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