Design and Validation of a Lightweight Hip Exoskeleton Driven by Series Elastic Actuator With Two-Motor Variable Speed Transmission

Abstract

To overcome the different requirements of torque-velocity characteristics for walking, running, stand-to-sit, sit-to-stand, and climbing stairs, we propose a novel concept for actuator design, namely, a series elastic actuator with two-motor variable speed transmission. The two-motor variable speed transmission can be adjusted in real-time to realize variable torque-velocity characteristics. A novel lightweight wearable hip exoskeleton driven by a series elastic actuator with two-motor variable speed transmission, named SoochowExo, has been developed in this paper for use in the elderly population. The weight of the whole hip exoskeleton is 2.85 kg (excluding batteries), including two actuators and the frame. The proposed hip exoskeleton can match the weight of the state-of-the-art hip exoskeleton while offering suitable torque and velocity for sitting-to-standing, walking, running on level ground, and climbing stairs. The benchtop tests and the preliminary human subject tests further confirm the design.

Keywords

• Hip exoskeleton
• variable speed transmission
• series elastic actuator
• locomotion modes
• multiple tasks