Savings for pedestrians

An elastic exoskeleton has been created that allows a person to save up to 23 percent of energy while walking

DailyTechInfo based on New Scientist: Stretchy robotic suit reduces energy used to walk by 23 per cent

People who have to walk a lot for various reasons know that this involves quite serious physical exertion. To reduce these loads, researchers from the Harvard University Biodesign Laboratory have created an elastic exoskeleton, the use of which reduces energy consumption when walking by as much as 23 percent. And this is the highest indicator among other similar devices.

The exoskeleton consists of a belt wrapped around a person's waist, which is connected by four elastic straps with two parts wrapped around a person's lower leg. The engines built into the exoskeleton give their power to the human ankle, reducing the amount of energy that the muscles of the ankle and knee joints have to spend. The belt system is designed in such a way that the exoskeleton does not require the use of separate engines for the knee and ankle joints, their work is facilitated by the operation of a single engine.

A drawing from an article by Quinlivan et al. Assistance magnitude versus metabolic cost reductions for a tethered multiarticular soft exosuit, published in the journal Science Robotics – VM.

Currently, a prototype of an elastic exoskeleton has been created, which uses external engines. But in the near future, another version of the implementation of this device will be developed, which will have a built-in power source and its own engines.

"When a person puts on an exoskeleton, it takes him some time to get used to it," says Conor Walsh, a leading researcher, "But then, if you move over long distances, you will notice quite a strong relief, especially if you have to carry a fairly heavy load when walking."

"Another advantage of the soft construction is that human joints are used as a support, which avoids the need for rigid and precise synchronization of the device with human movements," says Jeff Koller, a specialist from the University of Michigan engaged in the development of exoskeletons with a rigid structure, "A soft exoskeleton relies on work in its work the musculoskeletal structure of man, and this structure has been brought almost to perfection over millions of years of evolution." Naturally, an elastic exoskeleton is able to increase a person's strength by a much smaller value than exoskeletons with a rigid structure. However, all this is compensated by the low weight of the device itself, its small dimensions and ease of use.

Such an exoskeleton, unlike a rigid one, will not be useful for paralyzed people and people who need to lift very heavy loads. However, it can become an invaluable assistant for the elderly and for soldiers who need to travel long distances on foot, carrying the weight of a standard layout on their shoulders.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  26.01.2017