Development of power assist suit employing bellows actuators

Abstract

Wearable power assist suit which utilized pneumatic bellows actuators is developed. The suit is able to work at low air pressure and is to be slim and lightweight. In addition, the waist unit of this suit has a waist joint and hip joints which are assisted by the actuators independently. The obstruction of walking is canceled by this construction and the suit become able to assist walking. Further, the wearer of this suit is possible to assist patient's transfer from a low-floor bed. In order to increase the assist force to the knee, two kinds of leg units are developed. One uses newly developed lightweight air cylinder actuators to lift up the hip joints and the other uses the newly developed combination mechanism of the bellows actuators and gears. Practical utility of the newly developed power assist suit as an assisting equipment was proved experimentally.