Wearable power assist robot driven with pneumatic rubber artificial muscles

Abstract

In the coming advanced age society, an innovative technology to assist the activities of daily living of elderly and disabled people and the heavy work in nursing is desired. A wearable power assist robot is one of effective approaches as such technology, which is equipped to the human body to assist the muscular force. Since this kind of robot directly acts on the human body, it should be friendly for human, so should be small, lightweight and has to provide a proper softness. A pneumatic rubber artificial muscle is effective for such requirements. We have developed some types of pneumatic rubber artificial muscles and applied them to the wearable power assist robot. In this talk, some types of rubber artificial muscles developed and manufactured in our laboratory are introduced. Further, some kinds of wearable power assist robots, for example, power assist glove, power assist device for standing up motion, power assist wear like clothes, are introduced. Experiments clarify the effectiveness of pneumatic rubber artificial muscles for an innovative human assist technology.