Quantitative Evaluation of Power Assist Suit Equipped with Compressive Force Reduction Mechanism

Abstract

Recently, according to the research of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, around 60% of workers suffer from low back pain in Japan. For that reason, we developed a wearable assist device “AB-Wear” aimed at reducing back pain.The assist suit is equipped with mechanism to reduce spine compression. This mechanism is made of flexible flat plate, and wearer can move naturally. First of all, we explain the detail structure of AB-Wear. And assist effect is confirmed by musculoskeletal simulation using assist suit model and musculoskeletal model. Finally effect of compressive force reduction mechanism to human complex motion is confirmed by torsion experiment on wearing the suit and without suit.