University of California

Suitx, Inc.

Lee-Huang Chen

Homayoon Kazerooni

Erich Hacker

Wayne Tung

Theerapat Yangyuenthanasan

Nathan Poon

Alice Agogino

Kyle Zampaglione

Andrew P Sabelhaus

An exoskeleton includes two torque generators, two thigh links, and a supporting trunk rotatably coupled to the thigh links. When a wearer bends forward in the sagittal plane such that the supporting trunk extends beyond a predetermined angle A with respect to vertical, at least one of the torque generators imposes a resisting torque between the supporting trunk and a corresponding thigh link, thus imposing a force onto a wearer's trunk and thighs to aid in supporting the wearer in a bent position. The exoskeleton may include an active or passive means for actuating the generators. When the supporting trunk does not extend beyond the predetermined angle A, the torque generators do not impose resisting torques between the supporting trunk and the thigh links during the entire range of motion of the thigh links, thus enabling a wearer to walk, run and sit without constraint while in an upright position.

Trunk supporting exoskeleton and method of use

A DNA-structured linear actuator comprised of a ladder-like structure that twists to generate linear motion. In its base state, the DNA structured linear actuator best resembles a rope ladder. When this ladder is twisted, it takes on the appearance of a DNA double-helix structure. By application of a torsional force on one end, the ladder-like structure extends or contracts to allow linear translation of one end of the structure.

DNA structured linear actuator

A trunk supporting exoskeleton comprises: a supporting trunk; thigh links configured to move in unison with a person's thighs; and first and second torque generators located on both left and right halves of the person substantially close to the person's hip. The torque generators couple the supporting trunk to the thigh links, and generate torque between the thigh links and the supporting trunk. When the person bends forward such that a predetermined portion of the supporting trunk passes beyond a predetermined angle from vertical, a torque generator(s) imposes a resisting torque between the supporting trunk and the thigh link(s), causing the supporting trunk to impose a force against the person's trunk, and the thigh link(s) to impose a force onto the person's thigh. When the predetermined portion does not pass beyond the predetermined angle, the torque generators impose no resisting torques between said supporting trunk and respective thigh links.

Growing community of inventors

Anaheim, CA, United States of America

Lee-Huang Chen