Power Muscle Robotics Realized by Multi-filament Hydraulic Artificial Muscles

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H03760
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 20:Mechanical dynamics, robotics, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Suzumori Koichi 東京工業大学, 工学院, 教授 (00333451)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 難波江 裕之 東京工業大学, 工学院, 助教 (90757171)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: メカトロニクス / 人工筋肉 / パワーソフトロボット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we call robots that are driven by powerful artificial muscles and perform tasks with great power far beyond that of humans "power muscle robots," and aim to explore the possibilities of "power muscle robots" that are different from conventional mechanized robots, assuming their application to (1) power humanoids and (2) wearable robots. The objective of this study was to explore the possibilities of "power muscle robots," which are different from conventional mechanized robots.
Specifically, using hydraulically driven McKibben-type artificial muscles that have 30 times higher energy density than conventional pneumatic artificial muscles, we developed a 1.5-m-long humanoid arm consisting of 29 muscles, a power wearable robot that assists in standing up motions, and a Superman suit that assists in giant swing performance. We demonstrated the usefulness of the "Power Muscle Robot.

Free Research Field

ロボティクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は，例えば，人間に超人的な運動能力を与えるウェアラブルロボットや，災害や外敵から人類を守る力強いヒト型ロボットの実現につながる．
既存の大型電磁モータや油圧シリンダを使う機械仕掛けのロボットとは異なり，生き物のような外観や特性を備えたヒューマノイドや，ヒトの身体形状や動きに沿って動作する装着感のよいウェアラブルロボットの実現につながり，重作業支援や災害対応といった現実の世界で，人間と協調しうる重作業支援ツールとしての活用が期待できる．