Robotic exoskeleton with fall control and actuation

• Main Authors: Summer Matthew D, Bosscher Paul M, Wilkinson Loran J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.10.2016
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HAND TOOLS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MANIPULATORS; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; PROSTHESES; REGULATING; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS

Method for controlling an exoskeleton (100) involves detecting an occurrence of an uncontrolled acceleration of at least a portion of the exoskeleton, as might occur during a fall. In response, the exoskeleton is caused to automatically transition at least one motion actuator (104a, 104b) from a first operational state to a second operational state. In the first operational state, the one or more motion actuators are configured to provide a motive force for controlled movement of the exoskeleton. In the second operational state, the one or more motion actuators are configured to function as energy dampers which dissipate a shock load exerted upon the exoskeleton.