介護用パワーアシストスーツの実用化に向けた改善

抄録

In this paper, improvement aiming for practical use of the power assist suit for nursing care developed in our previous study is discussed. First, in order to reduce the price of the power assist suit, cost reduction of the pneumatic artificial muscle was achieved under the condition that the usage of the artificial muscle is restricted in nursing care field only. Second, the operability of push switch was improved by changing the mounted position of the switch and modifying the control program more properly. In addition, hands-free switch using a throat microphone was developed, and the operability of the two switches mentioned above and the previous switch was evaluated through CSTLX method. Finally, air supplying method to the artificial muscle was changed from the air compressor to the air tanks to make the assist suit cordless. Then, an air recycling system and an air generation system were proposed as an air supplying system. As a result, the number of times that the assist suit can work was increased by using these air supplying systems.