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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Design and Prototype of an Active Knee Exoskeleton to Aid Farmers with Mobility Limitations

Wood, Evan A. 10 September 2019 (has links)
As farmers continue to get older, they will likely face age-related disabilities that impede their ability to work and increase risk of suffering serious injuries. One of the major age- related diseases is arthritis, which currently accounts for about 40% of disability cases in agriculture nationwide. The effect of arthritis on farmers is profound because it reduces their physical strength, joint range of motion and is a source of joint pain, all culminating in the lack of ability to perform routine activities regularly and safely. One way to decrease the rate of injuries is by reducing the strength and joint loading required to perform these activities through the use of wearable robotics. As opposed to existing solutions that focus only on injury prevention, this thesis will present an active, knee-assist exoskeleton intent on providing 30% of the necessary joint rotation force to perform activities such as sit-to- stand actions and the ascent/descent of stairs and hills. The device will be a lightweight, unobtrusive cable-driven exoskeleton actuated by distally-worn electric motors. We hope that use of the exoskeleton will result in increased ranges of motion and overall reduction of stress on the wearer's body, which will minimize the effects of arthritis and ultimately improve safety and quality of life. / Master of Science / As farmers continue to get older, they will likely face age-related disabilities that impede their ability to work and increase risk of suffering serious injuries. One of the major age-related diseases is arthritis, which currently accounts for about 40% of disability cases in agriculture nationwide. The effect of arthritis on farmers is profound because it reduces their physical strength, joint range of motion and is a source of joint pain, all culminating in the lack of ability to perform routine activities regularly and safely. One way to decrease the rate of injuries is by reducing the strength and joint loading required to perform these activities through the use of wearable robotics. As opposed to existing solutions that focus only on injury prevention, this thesis will present an active, knee-assist exoskeleton intent on providing 30% of the necessary joint rotation force to perform activities such as sit-to-stand actions and the ascent/descent of stairs and hills. The device will be a lightweight, unobtrusive cable-driven exoskeleton actuated by distally-worn electric motors. We hope that use of the exoskeleton will result in increased ranges of motion and overall reduction of stress on the wearer’s body, which will minimize the effects of arthritis and ultimately improve safety and quality of life.

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