FURI | Fall 2018

Creating a soft robotic knee brace can reduce pain and injury risk in laborers tasked with repetitive lifting

The goal of this research is to create a soft robotic knee brace in order to reduce the risk of injury, chronic pain and osteoarthritis in laborers tasked with repetitive lifting. The researchers have developed a design with layered leaf springs. When the user needs assistance with lifting, a sleeve will slide over the length of the leaf springs, thus increasing the resistance to bending. Currently, tests are being conducted on the stiffness created by the sleeves. Future work will include creating a mechanism that will allow and activate the sleeves.