Study on Communication Channels for Directability of Mechanical Power Assist Orthosis

Abstract

This paper presents a research work to develop a power assist orthosis for upper limbs that aims at supporting a human helper taking up patients for nursing purposes. In order to achieve naturalistic physical assists, user's directability of the orthosis is one of the most important dimensions that should be assured. Concerning this issue, basic experiment and analysis were performed to explore plausible positions at which force sensors are mounted as a communication channel from a user to the orthosis.