Motor-Free Exosuit Uses Soft Artificial Muscles for Walking Assistance

Researchers at Hebei University of Technology have developed a novel hip exosuit that eschews traditional motors and pumps for soft artificial muscles. This new design aims to provide more natural and less restrictive walking assistance for individuals such as older adults, patients recovering from injuries, or industrial workers.

The core of this technology lies in a new type of rubber-like material known as a dielectric elastomer. Unlike previous iterations, the researchers engineered a molecular design that enhances the material's strength and allows it to be formed into thin, thread-like fibers. These fibers are then bundled together, mimicking the structure of biological muscles to increase pulling power.

This motor-free exosuit, featuring a muscle-like bundle on each hip and a compact battery pack, was tested on six healthy volunteers. During testing, participants walked on a treadmill both with the suit in active mode (artificial muscles engaged) and without. Scientists measured oxygen consumption and muscle activity to assess the suit's effectiveness.

The results indicated that when the exosuit was active, volunteers utilized approximately 13.9% less energy compared to walking without the suit. This reduction in energy expenditure signifies that the suit effectively assisted their walking, a finding corroborated by sensor data showing reduced effort from the leg muscles.