Design of a high torque, lightweight clutch for use in an exoskeleton to augment human running

The metabolic augmentation of human locomotion though the use of wearable exoskeletons is a complex and difficult goal. One exoskeleton architecture adds parallel elasticity to the user during stance phase to unload the user's muscles and joints. Critical to this design is the creation of a lightweight, high torque clutch that can endure the forces associated with ground impact and stance phase in running and also disengage to permit a natural swing phase. The clutch makes use of radial, ratcheting clutch plates, a planetary gearbox, and a novel mechanical decoupling concept to meet the design requirements.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Marecki, Andrew T. (Andrew Thomas)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hugh M. Herr.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/59941

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/59941