POWER-AUGMENTED EXOSKELETON DEMONSTRATION UNIT

THIS PROPOSAL DETAILS A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WHICH WILL DEMONSTRATE FEASIBILITY OF A POWER-AUGMENTED EXOSKELETON. AN EXOSKELETON IS A JOINTED, EXTERNAL FRAMEWORK WORN BY A USER. FORCE SENSORS DETECT USER MOVEMENTS AND, THROUGH MODERN FEEDBACK CONTROL TECHNIQUES, POWER THE EXOSKELETON LIMBS. A USER'S STRENGTH CAN THUS BE MAGNIFIED THREE OR FIVE TIMES WITHOUT LOSS OF DEXTERITY OR SPEED. THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO PROVE FEASIBILITY OF HIGH SPEED CONTROL COUPLED WITH MODERN ACTUATOR TECHNOLOGY. THE PRIMARY PROJECT GOAL IS A SINGLE POWERED JOINT WITH AN ADJUSTABLE AMPLIFICATION FACTOR OF UP TO 10:1. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION WOULD BE THE PRECURSOR TO A FULL EXOSKELETON.