Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Biomimetic Human Shoulder Phantom Mechanism For Testing Wearable Exoskeleton
Technology Category/Market
Category- Assistive, Test Equipment & Design Manufacturing
Industry Classification:
Healthcare and Rehabilitation; Manufacturing; Robotics and Automation; Defense and Military; Sports and Athletics
Applications:
Designing and testing exoskeletons that assist patients in rehabilitation; developing ergonomic exoskeletons to enhance workers’ strength and reduce fatigue during heavy manual tasks; improving humanoid robots with lifelike movements; designing wearables or training devices to improve performance and prevent injuries in athletes
Market report:
The global wearable exoskeleton market was valued at USD 1.23 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 41.48 billion IN 2033 with a CAGR of 42.17%.
Problem Statement
- Testing wearable exoskeletons is crucial for ensuring alignment and reducing joint damage, aiding rehabilitation and augmentation.
- Current humanoid shoulder phantoms lack accurate representation of gleno-humeral joint motion, leading to inadequate testing.
- Existing models treat joints as single spherical units, failing to address misalignment and interaction forces effectively.
- There is a need for a testing mechanism that replicates shoulder motion accurately, senses misalignment forces, and enables adjustable configurations for diverse needs
Technology
- The mechanism is a biomimetic shoulder phantom designed to replicate human shoulder dynamics for testing wearable exoskeletons, simulating both shoulder girdle and gleno-humeral joint motions
- The shoulder girdle module uses two perpendicular revolute joints with integrated rotational sensors and potentiometers, plus an adjustable length slider for adaptable exoskeleton mounting.
- The gleno-humeral module features two spherical joints linked by an active prismatic joint, driven by a motorized rack and pinion system to replicate multi-axis arm motions including humeral head translation.
- A dedicated force sensor module—employing strain gauges, bending, and tension load cells—is positioned between modules to accurately measure interaction forces and detect joint axis misalignment.
- The arm assembly module offers adjustable height and size settings, ensuring compatibility with diverse exoskeleton designs and precise alignment with the phantom for realistic, user-specific testing.
Key Features/Value Proposition
- The mechanism replicates realistic shoulder and gleno‑humeral joint dynamics with humeral head translation, unlike simple spherical models.
- It features a force sensor module that measures interaction forces during joint misalignment for precise feedback missing in standard tests.
- Adjustable shoulder girdle and arm assembly components allow customizable exoskeleton testing for various user-specific requirements.
- Embedded rotational sensors accurately measure joint angles, enabling detailed movement analysis and iterative exoskeleton design improvements.
- Combining realistic biomechanics, force feedback, and customizability, it safely tests exoskeletons while reducing risks from direct human trials
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
Research Lab
Prof. Asokan T
Adjunct Prof. Santhakumar Mohan
Department of Engineering Design
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref 2705
- IN 557685 Patent Granted
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 3
Experimental Proof of concept