Body-powered wearable variable impedance device

Body-Powered Wearable Variable Impedance Device for Posture Correction Using Upper/Lower Cables and Elastic Elements

This technology is a non-powered wearable variable impedance device that corrects posture and assists muscle strength by inducing cable tension and elastic deformation based on the user's body movement. It features a mechanism that increases tension during upper body flexion by positioning upper and lower strings around a spinal connection point.

There is a risk of injury from improper posture, such as bending the waist during squatting and lifting tasks, and existing posture correction exercise equipment has significant limitations in usability due to its bulkiness and lack of portability.

This technology proposes a structure that combines a wearable cable system with elastic elements. By adjusting the separation distance and tension between strings according to changes in the user's joint angles, it encourages back straightening and provides muscle support during knee flexion, enabling variable impedance through body movement alone without an external power source. It reduces the risk of injury in environments where repetitive strain on the lower back occurs, such as logistics loading/unloading, construction site work, and nursing care, and is easy to implement in the field due to its lightweight, portable, and power-free design.

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Key Features:

• A connection point located on the user's back between the neck and hips, serving as the reference point where the upper and lower cables intersect and connect.
• An upper cable system worn on both sides of the upper body, featuring first and second upper strings and an upper connecting string that extend toward the connection point.
• A lower cable system equipped on each leg, featuring first and second lower strings and a lower connecting string that extend toward the connection point.
• An elastic component that deforms according to changes in the user's joint angles to generate elastic force, thereby performing posture correction and muscle strength assistance.

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This invention was developed with support from the Human-Centered Soft Robotics Research Center of the Ministry of Science and ICT.