Biomechanics-Based Optimization for Exoskeleton Design

dc.contributor.authorHook, Melanie Lynnen
dc.contributor.committeechairLeonessa, Alexanderen
dc.contributor.committeememberKim, Sun Wooken
dc.contributor.committeememberAsbeck, Alan Thomasen
dc.contributor.departmentMechanical Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-25T08:00:14Zen
dc.date.available2023-05-25T08:00:14Zen
dc.date.issued2023-05-24en
dc.description.abstractThe goal of this thesis is to use biomechanical data describing shoulder motion to determine optimal parameters to assist in the design of a 5 DOF active shoulder exoskeleton. This thesis will provide a proof of concept on optimization techniques using motion data using a simplified 3 DOF model to facilitate future work implementing a full 5 DOF model. Optimization will be performed to determine the link lengths and, consequently, the locations of the joints of the exoskeleton by considering the human's workspace to maximize range of motion and promote user safety by minimizing collisions of the exoskeleton with the user and with the exoskeleton itself. The thesis will detail the development of computational models of the human and proposed exoskeleton, the processing of experimental data used to estimate the human's capabilities, optimization, and future work. This work will contribute to a large-scale NSF-funded project of building an upper body exoskeleton emulator. The emulator will promote the widespread adoption of exoskeletons in industry by providing a test-bed to streamline the rapid design of various assistance profiles for various users and tasks.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralAn exoskeleton is a robotic assistive device used in industrial and rehabilitative settings. This thesis will use data describing how the human shoulder moves during certain tasks to help design an exoskeleton to assist with theses tasks. A model of the human shoulder and a model of the exoskeleton will be developed and used in an optimization to figure out the best dimensions of the exoskeleton links to support the human's movements.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:37477en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/115175en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectbiomechanical modelingen
dc.subjectshoulder exoskeletonen
dc.subjectdesign optimizationen
dc.titleBiomechanics-Based Optimization for Exoskeleton Designen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineMechanical Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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