Wearable Mechatronic Garments for Motion Assistance

人们正在设计可穿戴的机电设备，以恢复人类的能力，提高人类的表现，并作为智能系统的接口。为了充分发挥它们的潜力，需要研究通过使它们更轻、更能响应人类需求来提高它们的穿着性。为此，拟议的研究计划侧重于解决与开发用于上半身运动辅助的可穿戴机电服装相关的工程挑战。为了解决现有技术的局限性，本研究的短期目标如下：1.设计新型执行器。为了减轻设备的重量和体积，降低功率需求，并与人体运动特征相匹配，将设计和优化包括扭曲线圈执行器和压电执行器在内的新型驱动技术。2.开发先进的数据处理技术。将实施将各种感知模式与新的肌肉和大脑活动感知模式相结合的融合技术。将开发数据处理技术，以允许将传感数据用作先进控制系统的输入。3.智能控制器的设计。将开发使用生物信号作为输入的算法，以便向设备控制器提供补充信息，例如运动类型、速度和肌肉产生的力。通过使用这些额外的输入，控制系统的智能将得到提升，这将使其能够为给定条件选择最有效的控制方案。4.建立分布式机电一体化系统。将对分布式网络系统的开发进行研究，该系统由服装中的各种机电集线器组成，以最大限度地控制设备，减轻重量和侵入性，并允许定制模块化组件。拟议中的研究成果将在未来5年内对近距离工作的机电设备领域做出重大贡献，通过开发更好的驱动系统、传感器和控制系统来安全地自动响应人类，从而扩大研究领域。从长远来看，这项拟议的研究将导致智能机电服装的产生，这种服装能够持续监测身体并自动提供运动支持，根据每个用户的身体尺寸和形状、力量、受伤情况和期望的动作进行调整。为了使拟议的工作取得成功，将在雇用研究人员时、在征聘参与者时、在分析数据时以及在开发和翻译技术时考虑公平、多样性和包容性标准。将采取协作方式考虑用户和包括行业合作伙伴在内的其他主要利益攸关方的需求。

Wearable mechatronic devices are being designed for restoring human ability, enhancing human performance, and as interfaces to intelligent systems. In order to achieve their full potential, research is required to improve their wearability by making them lighter and more responsive to human needs. For this purpose, the proposed research program focuses on solving the engineering challenges associated with the development of wearable mechatronic garments for upper body motion assistance. To address the limitations of the current technology, the short-term objectives of the proposed research are as follows: 1. To design novel actuators. To reduce device weight and bulk, reduce power requirements, and match human motion characteristics, novel actuation technologies, including twisted coiled actuators and piezoelectric actuators will be designed and optimized. 2. To develop advanced data processing techniques. Fusion techniques that combine various modes of sensing and new muscle and brain activity sensing modalities will be implemented. Data processing techniques will be developed to allow sensed data to be used as input to advanced control systems. 3. To design intelligent controllers. Algorithms will be developed that use biosignals as inputs in order to provide supplementary information to the device controller, such as the type of motion, the speed, and the force produced by the muscles. The control system intelligence will be advanced through the use of these extra inputs that will allow it to select the most efficient control scheme for a given condition. 4. To create distributed mechatronic systems. Research into the development of distributed network systems, composed of various mechatronic hubs within a garment, will be performed to maximize device control, reduce weight and intrusiveness, and allow for the customization of modular components. The outcomes of the proposed research over the next 5 years will lead to significant contributions to the field of mechatronic devices that work in close proximity to humans, enabling an expansion of the research field through the development of better actuation systems, sensors, and control systems that automatically respond to humans safely. In the long-term, the proposed research will result in smart mechatronic garments that are capable of constantly monitoring the body and automatically providing motion support, adapted to each user according to body size and shape, strength, the presence of injury, and the desired action. To succeed with the proposed work, equity, diversity and inclusion criteria will be considered when hiring research personnel, when recruiting participants, when analyzing the data, and in the development and translation of the technology. A collaborative approach will be taken to consider the needs of the users and other key stakeholders, including industry partners.