Load+Carrying+Exoskeleton

=Mission Statement= toc

The goal of this project is to design a robot that will transfer a soldier’s load to the ground, in a simple, highly efficient manner.

=Team Reports=

=Exo Project Proposal= Includes:
 * Proposed Design
 * Background
 * Constraints and Criteria
 * Technical Justification of Design Selection
 * Statement of Work
 * Deliverables
 * Schedule

HERO-LC Midsemester Report
Includes:
 * Background
 * Status Report

HERO-LC Design Notebook

 * keep all emails, drawings, ANYTHING related to project to put in notebook

=HERO-LC Executive Summary=

=Inspiration and Ideas=

Ted Talks
[|Eythor Bender demos human exoskeletons] Eythor Bender of Berkeley Bionics brings onstage two amazing exoskeletons, HULC and eLEGS -- robotic add-ons that could one day allow a human to carry 200 pounds without tiring, or allow a wheelchair user to stand and walk. It's a powerful onstage demo, with implications for human potential of all kinds.

[|Dennis Hong: My seven species of robot] At TEDxNASA, Dennis Hong introduces seven award-winnning, all-terrain robots -- like the humanoid, soccer-playing DARwIn and the cliff-gripping CLIMBeR -- all built by his team at RoMeLa, Virginia Tech. Watch to the end to hear the five creative secrets to his lab's incredible technical success.

[|Robert Full: Learning from the geko's tail] Biologist Robert Full studies the amazing gecko, with its supersticky feet and tenacious climbing skill. But high-speed footage reveals that the gecko's tail harbors perhaps the most surprising talents of all.

[|Scott Summit: Beautiful artificial limbs] Industrial designer Scott Summit discusses the impact of ascetics and design when machines and humans are paired together.

=Background Research=

Exoskeleton Biomechanics
To design an effective lower body exoskeleton, one must first understand the bio mechanic principles behind the human gait. The more similar the mechanical device conforms to the natural biological motion of the human, the greater the metabolic savings. This page covers principles of:
 * The human gait
 * inertial compensation
 * weight distribution

Mechanical Components
[|Pnuematic control valves]

Existing Exoskeleton Designs
There are numerous designs for lower body exoskeletons currently on the market. Although the constraints and criteria for each vary widely, much can be learned from the design solutions. The most widely recognized Exoskeletons include
 * HULC (Human Universal Load Carrier)
 * Sarcos XOS 2 by Raytheon
 * HAL 5

=Related Projects=

[|Instructables-robots] contains some basic to advanced projects in the field of robotics. This is great practice for various methods of control, structural, and kinematic design.

=Resources=

Mentorship
[|Spring Active]specializes in providing innovative solutions to powered human assistance. Wearable human assistance robots must be transparent to the user. This is accomplished through designs that are safe, lightweight, efficient, and intuitive to use. For prostheses, the robotic device that is replacing function must behave as an extension of the user's own body. In most cases, passive prosthetic devices do not return the user to able-bodied functional levels. For example, it is impossible for a passive prosthetic ankle to return enough energy for a fully powered step.

Materials
[|SMC Pneumatics] [|Profiles Tool & Engineering] has an existing relationship and they are located in Tempe

=Minutes=

Exo Minutes summarize all team meetings and what was accomplished. = = = = =Class Documents=



= = = = =Collaborators=

Logan Van Engelhoven Adrian Knowles-Jackman Nathan Cahill Andy Chintis Pedro Moreles