Soft Pneumatic Exoskeleton
The Pneumatic Soft Exoskeleton is worn by strapping components of of the system on parts of the leg to align the assistive muscle to major muscle groups in the leg. By attaching a few pneumatic muscles to assist gross movement of the lower extremities, properly timed actuation of the assisting muscles add to the user's own movements provide support and power. Each assistive muscle coincides with existing muscle groups and transfer power to tension lines that wrap around the leg in such a way that the forces transfer in a similar fashion to the muscle-tendon-bone hierarchy. The system is powered by a 'pony' size scuba tank and is triggered by the user's motions through flex and force sensors worn on the body. An electronic circuit, powered by a battery senses and triggers movements in the worn artificial muscles.
