Recent research on exoskeletons and braces has examined the ways of improving flexibility, wearability or overall weight-reduction. Part of the challenge arises from the significant loading requirements, while the other part comes from the inflexibilities associated with traditional (rigid link-moving joint) system architectures. Compliant mechanisms offer a class of articulated multibody systems that allow creation of lightweight yet adjustable-stiffness solutions for exoskeletons and braces, which we study further. In particular, we will introduce the parallel coupled compliant plate (PCCP) mechanism and pennate elastic band (PEB) spring architecture as potential candidates for brace development. PCCP/PEB system provides adjustable passive flexibility and selective stiffness to the user with respect to posture of knee joint, without need for mediation by active devices and even active sensors. In addition to the passive mode of operation of the PCCP/PEB system, a semi-active design variant is also explored. In this semi-active design, structural stiffness reconfigurability is exploited to allow for changes of preload of the PEB spring to provide force and torque customization capability. The systematic study of both aspects (passive and semi-active) upon the performance of PCCP/PEB system is verified by a lightweight 3D printed physical brace prototype within a ground-truth (optical motion tracking and six degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) force transducer) measurement framework.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
November 2015
Research-Article
Smart Knee Brace Design With Parallel Coupled Compliant Plate Mechanism and Pennate Elastic Band Spring
Seungkook Jun,
Seungkook Jun
Automation Robotics
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: seungjun@buffalo.edu
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
State University of New York at Buffalo
,Buffalo
, NY 14260
e-mail: seungjun@buffalo.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Xiaobo Zhou,
Xiaobo Zhou
Automation Robotics
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: xzhou9@buffalo.edu
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
State University of New York at Buffalo
,Buffalo
, NY 14260
e-mail: xzhou9@buffalo.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Daniel K. Ramsey,
Daniel K. Ramsey
Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences,
e-mail: dkramsey@buffalo.edu
State University of New York at Buffalo
,Buffalo, NY 14260
e-mail: dkramsey@buffalo.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Venkat N. Krovi
Venkat N. Krovi
Automation Robotics
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: vkrovi@buffalo.edu
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
State University of New York at Buffalo
,Buffalo, NY 14260
e-mail: vkrovi@buffalo.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Seungkook Jun
Automation Robotics
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: seungjun@buffalo.edu
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
State University of New York at Buffalo
,Buffalo
, NY 14260
e-mail: seungjun@buffalo.edu
Xiaobo Zhou
Automation Robotics
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: xzhou9@buffalo.edu
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
State University of New York at Buffalo
,Buffalo
, NY 14260
e-mail: xzhou9@buffalo.edu
Daniel K. Ramsey
Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences,
e-mail: dkramsey@buffalo.edu
State University of New York at Buffalo
,Buffalo, NY 14260
e-mail: dkramsey@buffalo.edu
Venkat N. Krovi
Automation Robotics
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
e-mail: vkrovi@buffalo.edu
and Mechatronics Laboratory,
Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering,
State University of New York at Buffalo
,Buffalo, NY 14260
e-mail: vkrovi@buffalo.edu
Manuscript received July 31, 2014; final manuscript received April 28, 2015; published online July 17, 2015. Assoc. Editor: Satyandra K. Gupta.
J. Mechanisms Robotics. Nov 2015, 7(4): 041024 (12 pages)
Published Online: November 1, 2015
Article history
Received:
July 31, 2014
Revision Received:
April 28, 2015
Online:
July 17, 2015
Citation
Jun, S., Zhou, X., Ramsey, D. K., and Krovi, V. N. (November 1, 2015). "Smart Knee Brace Design With Parallel Coupled Compliant Plate Mechanism and Pennate Elastic Band Spring." ASME. J. Mechanisms Robotics. November 2015; 7(4): 041024. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4030653
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Design of Rolling Motion for Snake-like Robots using Center-of-Gravity (COG) Shift
J. Mechanisms Robotics
Modelling and Control of Cable Driven Exoskeleton for Arm Rehabilitation
J. Mechanisms Robotics
Design of an underactuated, flexure-based gripper, actuated through a push-pull flexure
J. Mechanisms Robotics
Related Articles
Design and Evaluation of a Smooth-Locking-Based Customizable Prosthetic Knee Joint
J. Mechanisms Robotics (April,2024)
Design of an Endoreactor for the Cultivation of a Joint-Like-Structure
J. Med. Devices (June,2009)
Design and Testing of a Prosthetic Foot With Interchangeable Custom Springs for Evaluating Lower Leg Trajectory Error, an Optimization Metric for Prosthetic Feet
J. Mechanisms Robotics (April,2018)
Lower-Limb Prostheses and Exoskeletons With Energy Regeneration: Mechatronic Design and Optimization Review
J. Mechanisms Robotics (August,2019)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Numerical Simulation of Spatial Synergic Interaction in the Double-Row Anti-Sliding Piles
Geological Engineering: Proceedings of the 1 st International Conference (ICGE 2007)
Design and Application of Prestress Drill-Grouted Diaphragm Wall in the Foundation Pit Bracing
Geological Engineering: Proceedings of the 1 st International Conference (ICGE 2007)
Supports
Process Piping: The Complete Guide to ASME B31.3, Fourth Edition