Self-Powered Cyber Physical Systems

18State-of-the-Art and Future Applications of Powered Exoskeleton

C.P. Dheeshith, K. Abhijith, A. Shahaas, Rithin B. Nambiar and Rathishchandra R. Gatti*

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, Mangalore, India

Abstract

Over the last decade, research on robotic exoskeletons has skyrocketed due to their importance in medicine and the military. Prototypes for testing on humans are now possible, thanks to advancements in the energy and hardware industries. This paper intends to report the most recent stages in the development of powered exoskeletons, their applications in the current world and their possible future improvements. This paper first describes a powered exoskeleton and how it impacts our current technologies and associated applications across different industries, such as the military, health care, and consumer electronics. Several state-of-the-art developed exoskeletons for critical applications such as the rehabilitation of a patient or boosting the physical attributes of a soldier are discussed. The different types of designs and some considerations to be concerned about in the design of these exoskeletons are also discussed here, along with the influencing design parameters such as safety, cost, flexibility, and adaptability. The future challenges that would be faced by this industry, along with some viable innovations in the current industry, are also reviewed here.

Keywords: Exoskeleton, robotic devices, military, rehabilitation, ...