Development of lightweight and flexible power assist suit with improved assist effect

Abstract

In this paper, a new type power assist suit was developed to improve an energy efficiency of our previous power assist suit. The developed new assist suit is mainly composed of flexible belts and waist supporter so as to tight fit to the body, and adjustment method of tightening and loosening the belt was improved. The ease of usage of the new assist suit was confirmed by questionnaire, and enhancement of the assist effect in the new assist suit was verified through experiment of lifting heavy weight. In addition, by performing the experiment of lifting heavy weight, reduction rate of muscular activity of erector spinae in use of the new assist suit was calculated and assist force of the developed new assist suit was estimated on the basis of the total of integrated electromyogram.