Verification of Effective Motion Assistance by Passive Force of Endoskeleton-type Power Assist Suit

Abstract

In recent years, over 60% Japanese worker suffers from low back pain. So, Low back pain has been became social problem. For it reason, we have been developed the endoskeleton-type power assist suit. The assist suit has two actuators; artificial muscle, and balloon actuator. So, this device can generate active assistive force and passive assistive force. In this paper, the effectiveness of passive assistive force was confirmed. First, assist suit is modeled. Thus, motions of human are analyzed by motion analysis software, and method of operation is determined using assist suit model. And, we have evaluated assist suit using measurement electromyography (EMG) and generation force of assist suit. In addition, the effectiveness of assist using passive force is confirmed.