Wearable Robots (PDF)

A wearable robot is a mechatronic system that is designed around
the shape and function of the human body, with segments and joints
corresponding to those of the person it is externally coupled with.
Teleoperation and power amplification were the first applications,
but after recent technological advances the range of application
fields has widened. Increasing recognition from the scientific
community means that this technology is now employed in
telemanipulation, man-amplification, neuromotor control research
and rehabilitation, and to assist with impaired human motor
control.

Logical in structure and original in its global orientation,
this volume gives a full overview of wearable robotics, providing
the reader with a complete understanding of the key applications
and technologies suitable for its development. The main topics are
demonstrated through two detailed case studies; one on a lower limb
active orthosis for a human leg, and one on a wearable robot that
suppresses upper limb tremor. These examples highlight the
difficulties and potentialities in this area of technology,
illustrating how design decisions should be made based on
these.

As well as discussing the cognitive interaction between human
and robot, this comprehensive text also covers:

* the mechanics of the wearable robot and it's
biomechanical interaction with the user, including state-of-the-art
technologies that enable sensory and motor interaction between
human (biological) and wearable artificial (mechatronic)
systems;

* the basis for bioinspiration and biomimetism, general rules for
the development of biologically-inspired designs, and how these
could serve recursively as biological models to explain biological
systems;

* the study on the development of networks for wearable
robotics.

Wearable Robotics: Biomechatronic Exoskeletons will
appeal to lecturers, senior undergraduate students, postgraduates
and other researchers of medical, electrical and bio engineering
who are interested in the area of assistive robotics. Active system
developers in this sector of the engineering industry will also
find it an informative and welcome resource.