STTR Phase II: Lower Extremity Exoskeleton Assist Device for Reducing the Risk of Back Injuries among Workers

这个小型企业技术转移（STTR）第二阶段项目将研究为配送中心和汽车装配厂的工人制造外骨骼辅助设备相关的技术障碍。通过使用这些设备，工人在操纵零件和箱子时可以显著减少下背部椎骨的负荷。辅助设备将减轻用户的大部分负担？年代的身体。这种人与机器之间的合作，既有人类的智力优势，又有机器的力量优势。该计划包括加州大学伯克利分校作为研究伙伴、通用汽车公司和美国邮政服务。最终目标是减少工作场所的背部伤害这是职业安全与健康管理局认为的？工作场所安全问题排名第一。这项研究的更广泛的影响是减少工人？美国的补偿保险费用，减少残疾津贴，提高工人的生产力，以及工人在老年时继续工作的能力。此外，这些新设备将打开一个全新的市场，这将在使美国成为新兴仿生学领域的头号玩家方面发挥重要作用。此外，建立这个外骨骼市场将促进其他外骨骼市场的发展，包括用于携带背包和防弹衣负载的军用外骨骼、救援人员外骨骼、用于城市消防员的爬楼梯外骨骼和野外消防员外骨骼。对工人安全和美国人生活质量的潜在影响是巨大而多样的。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project proposes will study the technology barriers associated with creating exoskeleton assist devices for workers in distribution centers and automobile assembly plants. By using these devices, workers can dramatically reduce the load in thevertebrae of the lower back when maneuvering parts and boxes. The assist device will take the majority of the load off of the user?s body. Such collaboration between humans and machines has the benefit of the intellectual advantage of humans coupled with the strength advantage of machines. The proposed project involves the University of California at Berkeley as research partner, General Motors Corporation, and the U.S. Postal Service. The end goal is a reduction in back injuries in the workplace which are considered by OSHA the nation?s number one workplace safety problem.The broader impacts of this research are reduced worker?s compensation insurance costs, reduced disability payments, increased worker productivity, and the ability for workers to keep working into their older years. Furthermore, these new devices will open an entirely new market which will serve an important role in establishing the United States as the number one player in the emerging field of bionics. Additionally, establishing this market for exoskeletons will enable the development of other exoskeleton markets which include military exoskeletons for carrying backpack and body armor loads, rescue worker exoskeletons, stair climbing exoskeletons for urban firefighters, and wild-land firefighter exoskeletons. The potential impacts to worker safety and American quality of life are large and diverse.