This technology provides assistive force by stacking multiple unit modules to track the multi-degree-of-freedom movements of the human spine, such as flexion, extension, and lateral bending, while controlling the tension of drive and auxiliary wires. By combining ball/universal joints in the articulation sections with the restorative force of elastic components, it achieves variable stiffness and assistive force tailored to the wearer's spinal movement.
Existing wearable muscle support devices often fail to fully accommodate the complex degrees of freedom of the spine (extension, flexion, lateral bending, rotation, etc.), resulting in limited support ranges and causing discomfort or restricted movement for the wearer.
This technology utilizes drive wires and left/right auxiliary wires that pass through multiple unit modules arranged along the spine, with a drive module that variably controls the tension of each wire. It provides lateral bending support through elastic components and optimizes muscle assistance for the wearer's movements by measuring and providing feedback on wire tension via pulley and spring encoders. Applicable to rehabilitation training, gait assistance, and medical/welfare services, it provides a wearable device that offers high-degree-of-freedom muscle support, prevents lower back injuries, and reduces lumbar load, thereby improving comfort and transmission characteristics.
This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the development of international standard-based functional safety implementation technology and risk assessment/reduction technology for robots operating in human-contact environments.
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