Development and design of a vest for a wearable soft robotic arm lifting system

Abstract: Work related injuries causes personal suffering and economic loss for both companies and individuals. Repetitive work and static postures with the arms can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the shoulder and neck region. This thesis set out to develop a wearable soft robotic arm lifting system using Bioservo Technologies’ Soft Extra Muscle (SEM) technology. The objective was to develop a functional prototype that supports lifting the arms. The vest part of the system was the main focus of this thesis. The intended user for the system is an individual who is in the risk group of MSD in the shoulder and neck region but does not have any work related injuries beforehand. Initially, a literature study was performed, followed by defining the user needs and product specifications. Previous prototypes had been developed at the company and they were analyzed and learned from before starting to generate concepts. Several prototypes were constructed and they were evaluated primarily through user tests and discussions with Bioservo representatives. During the development process, a heuristic approach was found the most effective since it allowed fast iterations. The final prototype’s main parts were a vest, a mechatronic system and an elbow brace. The vest served as force anchoring around the torso and it could be adjusted to fit various body types. The mechatronic system actuated a line which was connected to the elbow brace and supported the arms during motion. The recommendations for future work includes additional user tests to see if a system of this kind can prevent work related injuries.