Robotic exoskeletons to support balance
Farkhatdinov I, Ebert J, Van Oort G, Vlutters M, Van Asseldonk E, Burdet E. Assisting human balance in standing with a robotic exoskeleton. IEEE Robotics and automation letters. 2019 Jan 3;4(2):414-21. PDF
Supernumerary robotic limbs
EPSRC funded project “Automatic Posture and Balance Support for Supernumerary Robotic Limbs”
Wearable robotic systems like supernumerary (additional) robotic limbs augment human bodies with extra mobility and manipulation capabilities, and they can increase the efficiency when conducting bulky material handling tasks and allow older workers to maintain their jobs. This project aims to create novel techniques to address ergonomics and safety of supernumerary robotic limbs. A novel posture and balance support wearable robotic system will be created and its control will be integrated with the supernumerary robotic limbs for material handling. The scope of the project is to study how the ergonomics of the supernumerary limbs for material handling can be improved through additional back and balance support. The implementation will be based on creating and using innovative mechatronic technologies (soft robotic actuation and sensing; light-weight cable-driven active mechanisms; haptic feedback; human-centred interactive control) and posture assessment and data processing methods.