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The developement of strain wave geared actuator for lightweight lower limb leg exoskeltons

Research Project

Project/Area Number 21K14101
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section Basic Section 20010:Mechanics and mechatronics-related
Research InstitutionIbaraki University

Principal Investigator

Kitayama Fumiya  茨城大学, 応用理工学野, 講師 (50774197)

Project Period (FY) 2021-04-01 – 2025-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2024)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥390,000 (Direct Cost: ¥300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥90,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Keywords磁気式波動歯車 / 伝達トルク / 軽量化 / 脚支援機器 / 最大伝達トルク / 機構構造解析 / 磁場解析 / 変形形状測定 / アクチュエータ / 機構・構造解析 / 波動歯車 / モータ
Outline of Research at the Start

下肢障碍者への支援技術として、アクチュエータによって姿勢維持や歩行補助を行う脚支援機器の開発が進んでいる。しかし、着脱や装着維持の際に生じる重量の大きな機器の取り扱いが患者と介助者にとって負担になる。麻痺脚の補助には大きなトルクを必要とするため、アクチュエータとしてモータと波動歯車の組み合わせが広く利用されているが、部品点数が多いため重量は大きい。申請者は波動歯車とモータの一体化によるアクチュエータおよび脚支援機器全体の重量減を目指す。
本研究では、電磁場・構造解析による特性評価・実機検証を実施する。それから、提案技術を用いた脚支援機器を開発し、ユーザビリティ改善効果を明らかにする。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed a lightweight magnetic strain wave gear for lower-limb exoskeletons, utilizing permanent magnets in place of the mechanical cam. In this gear, the distribution of magnetic forces deforms the flexible outer gear, allowing the gear teeth to engage with the rigid inner gear. The flexible outer gear rotates with deceleration, operating on the principle of differential gears. We analyzed the operation through magnetic and multi-flexible body dynamic analyses, and we measured the transmission torque and deformed shape using a torque sensor and laser displacement sensors. The weight of the primary components ranges from 250 to 400 g. The analyzed and measured maximum transmission torques were 12.5 Nm and 10.0 Nm, respectively. Based on these findings, we anticipate a weight reduction of about 40% in the lower limb exoskeleton (Manipuleg, Ibaraki University).

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で開発した磁気式波動歯車は変形と磁場の両方を利用する特異な構造・動作原理を有しており、機械式波動歯車と比べると軽量であり、磁気歯車と比べて高い減速比を実現できる。
磁気式波動歯車を搭載した脚支援機器は軽量となるため、介護者や下肢麻痺者の負担軽減に寄与できる。さらに、人協調ロボットや上肢装着型支援装置などの軽量化を要する幅広い分野での応用も期待される。

Report

(5 results)
  • 2024 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2023 Research-status Report
  • 2022 Research-status Report
  • 2021 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (14 results)

All 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 Other

All Journal Article (3 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 3 results,  Open Access: 2 results) Presentation (10 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 3 results) Remarks (1 results)

  • [Journal Article] Elucidation on step-out phenomenon of magnetic strain wave gear by multi flexible body dynamics and displacement measurement2024

    • Author(s)
      北山 文矢, 近藤 良, 遠藤 理久
    • Journal Title

      Transactions of the JSME (in Japanese)

      Volume: 90 Issue: 936 Pages: 24-00017-24-00017

    • DOI

      10.1299/transjsme.24-00017

    • ISSN
      2187-9761
    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Dynamic Characteristics Analysis of Strain Wave Gearing Actuated by Magnetic Force2023

    • Author(s)
      遠藤 理久,北山 文矢,近藤 良
    • Journal Title

      Journal of the Japan Society of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics

      Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Pages: 251-256

    • DOI

      10.14243/jsaem.31.251

    • ISSN
      0919-4452, 2187-9257
    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Proposal of strain wave gear actuated by magnetic force2023

    • Author(s)
      Fumiya Kitayama, Ryou Kondo, Riku Endo
    • Journal Title

      International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics

      Volume: 71 Issue: 1_suppl Pages: S551-S560

    • DOI

      10.3233/jae-220213

    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Presentation] 永久磁石を用いた変速機構の研究動向2025

    • Author(s)
      北山 文矢
    • Organizer
      令和7年度電気学会全国大会
    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 磁気式波動歯車装置における磁石配置の検討2025

    • Author(s)
      松本 勇翔,北山 文矢
    • Organizer
      令和7年度電気学会全国大会
    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Transmission Torque Characteristics of Strain Wave Gear with 16-poles Magnet2024

    • Author(s)
      Fumiya Kitayama, Ryou Kondo
    • Organizer
      The 27th International Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems (ICEMS 2024)
    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Multi Flexible Body Dynamics と変形変位測定による磁気式波動歯車の脱調現象の解明2023

    • Author(s)
      北山 文矢,遠藤 理久,近藤 良
    • Organizer
      日本機械学会 Dynamics and Design Conference 2023(D&D2023)
    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Improvement of Transmission Torque Characteristics of Strain Wave Gear with Magnets2023

    • Author(s)
      Fumiya Kitayama, Ryou Kondo, Riku Endo
    • Organizer
      IEEE International Magnetism Conference INTERMAG 2023
    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 磁気式波動装置の動作特性解析2022

    • Author(s)
      遠藤理久,北山文矢,近藤良
    • Organizer
      第31回MAGDAコンファレンス in 鹿児島(MAGDA2022) ~電磁現象及び電磁力に関するコンファレンス~
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] フレクスプラインの形状特性を考慮した永久磁石内蔵型波動歯車装置の動作特性解析2022

    • Author(s)
      遠藤理久,近藤良,北山文矢
    • Organizer
      日本機械学会2022年茨城講演会
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] 磁力で変形する波動歯車装置の提案2022

    • Author(s)
      北山文矢,近藤良
    • Organizer
      令和4年電気学会全国大会
    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] PROPOSAL OF STRAIN WAVE GEAR ACTUATED BY MAGNETIC FORCE2022

    • Author(s)
      Fumiya Kitayama, Ryou Kondo
    • Organizer
      20th International Symposium on Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics (ISEM) 2022
    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 波動歯車装置を内蔵した小型モータに関する基礎検討2021

    • Author(s)
      北山文矢,近藤良
    • Organizer
      第33回「電磁力関連のダイナミクス」シンポジウム(SEAD33 in 伊香保温泉)
    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
  • [Remarks] 北山研究室HP

    • URL

      https://kitayamalab.mechsys.ibaraki.ac.jp/index.html

    • Related Report
      2024 Annual Research Report

URL: 

Published: 2021-04-28   Modified: 2026-01-16  

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