Hip-joint elastic suit for physical movement assistance and method of operating the same

Hip-Joint Elastic Suit for Enhanced Walking Speed and Stability

This technology relates to a hip-joint elastic suit and its operating method for physical movement assistance, specifically a non-powered wearable suit that uses elastic elements to assist with hip flexion and extension.

Older adults with reduced muscle mass often experience slower walking speeds and decreased stability, leading to a higher risk of falls. However, existing powered assistive devices are heavy and expensive, making them difficult to wear for daily use.

By connecting the main belt to the thigh-worn components using elastic elements and adjusting the assistive force via length-adjustment members, this technology provides a lightweight and convenient way to improve walking speed and stability.

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Key Features:

• A main belt worn around the user's waist and a support-fixing unit to secure the main belt in place.
• Thigh-worn garments fitted to each of the user's legs, to which the lower ends of the elastic elements are connected.
• Elastic elements that are detachably mounted between the lower part of the main belt and the upper part of each thigh-worn garment.
• Multiple elasticity adjustment modules that can be activated or deactivated by segment to control the elastic force and elasticity profile of the elastic bands.

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for "Machine Learning and Extended Reality for High-Speed Mutual Adaptation between Users and Wearable Robots," and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the "Development of Human-Augmented Hybrid Robot Suits Capable of Safe 100m Sprints in 7 Seconds and Comfortable 12-Hour Wear."