2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Development of non-powered assist suit capable of assistance along the operating direction for elderly

Research Project

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Project/Area Number	20K12762
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Section	一般
Review Section	Basic Section 90150:Medical assistive technology-related
Research Institution	Ishikawa National College of Technology
Principal Investigator	Fujika Jun 石川工業高等専門学校, 機械工学科, 教授 (20342488)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	穴田賢二石川工業高等専門学校, 機械工学科, 准教授 (30756531) 任田崇吾石川工業高等専門学校, 電子情報工学科, 講師 (50847382)
Project Period (FY)	2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Keywords	アシストスーツ / 福祉機器 / 双方向クラッチ / 軽労化
Outline of Final Research Achievements	We developed a self-holding joint capable of switching the transmission force passively in both directions, and developed an assistive suit that uses this joint. Furthermore, by analyzing the effect of muscle force assistance based on a kinematic model, we identified the appropriate design method for the elastic material and frame of the suit. Using the actual equipment, we evaluated quantitatively the effect of muscle force assistance by using muscle potentials when assisting in lifting, carrying, and other work activities. The evaluation results showed that the use of the assistive suit resulted in lighter lifting and less muscle fatigue during posture maintenance. Based on these results, we believe that a non-powered assistive suit with an unconventional mechanism and advantages that enables muscular force assistance in the direction of motion has been realized.
Free Research Field	メカトロニクス
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	受動型アシストスーツは小型軽量で利便性の高い装置であるが、原理的に動作方向の筋力補助に適さない。本システムは受動型の長所を損なうことなく動作方向の能動的な筋力補助を可能とする点で、福祉工学における従来の受動型アシストスーツの概念を覆す新たな成果として意義深い。アシストスーツは日常生活作業の負荷軽減のみならず、農作業や介護などの重労働支援、障害者やリハビリテーションのサポート等で広く活躍が期待されている。本研究成果は、生活支援だけでなく、こうした一般的な労働作業支援環境における受動型アシストスーツの利用拡大と促進にもつながることから、少子高齢化社会における総活躍社会の実現に広く貢献する。