Citation
(2003), "Smart material rehabilitation robot", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930aad.005
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
Smart material rehabilitation robot
Smart material rehabilitation robot
Applicant: Rutgers University, USAPatent number: US6,379,393Publication date: 30 April 2002Title: Prosthetic, orthotic, and other rehabilitative robotic assistive devices actuated by smart materials
This invention relates to an assistive device, such as a prosthetic, orthotic, surgical or other rehabilitative device, which improves the freedom of movement capabilities of artificial limbs or dysfunctional body parts. More specifically, it relates to an assistive device which is actuated by smart materials and which includes force and torque sensors to more accurately replicate the freedom of motion and sensory capabilities of human limbs.
The robotic device is constructed of a lightweight material (such as aluminium) and has a plurality of smart material actuators attached to it. The advantage of using smart materials includes: their small size, volume and weight; their high force to weight ratio; their novel reactive force properties; their low cost and their anthropometrical behaviour. A plurality of sensors, including proximity detectors, accelerometers, tactile sensors etc., are mounted on the device and provides data to computer-controlled command circuitry and actuators.
It is an aim of this invention to provide a device, which responds more like an actual human limb than other inventions.