Soft Smart Sleeve
Multi-directional Variable Impedance Mechanism

    Research on soft wearable robots is essential due to their flexibility, adaptability, safety, cost efficiency, and user convenience. These robots utilize soft and flexible materials to conform to various body shapes and movements, garnering interest in the robotics field due to their lightweight and safe characteristics. To create an effective wearable robot that meets these requirements, we are focusing on the following: 1) a variable impedance mechanism capable of multi-degree-of-freedom movement known as Slide-Linkage-based Layer Jamming, 2) a Linked-Layer Jamming Mechanism that is more suitable for wearable robots, and 3) a wearable robot capable of impedance-based assistance for multi-degree-of-freedom, multi-joint upper limb tasks. This research aims to enable comfortable movement for the wearer while providing effective assistance. ; ; ; 

    Pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs) have shown promising potential as actuators for safe human-robot interactions due to their high force density and inherent compliance. However, drawbacks such as force reduction, relatively poor control performance, and low energy efficiency have hindered the practical application of PAMs in robotic systems. To address these issues and efficiently implement pneumatic systems, we have conducted the following research in the areas of actuators, power sources, and structures: 1) a high-efficiency actuator based on a spring frame, 2) a compressed air recirculation system for efficient pneumatic systems, and 3) a knee joint-mimicking force transmission structure based on the force characteristics analysis of pneumatic artificial muscles. These studies approach the inefficiencies of pneumatic systems, enhancing not only their efficiency but also the mechanical performance of pneumatic actuation systems.

Related Publications

Impedance for Assistance: Upper-limb Assistive Soft Robotic Suit using Linked-Layer Jamming Mechanisms

J. Park, N. Kim, and D. Shin
Soft Robotics, 2024(Accepted).

Patella-Inspired Linkage Joint: Power Amplifier for Pneumatic Artificial Muscles

S. Lee, D. Lee, and D. Shin
IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 2024 (Published Online).

Power-Efficient Soft Pneumatic Actuator Using Spring-Frame Collateral Compression Mechanism

S. Kim, S.R. Lee, S. Lee, D. Lee and D. Shin
Actuators, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 1-13, 2022.

An Air Recirculation System Based on Bioinspired Soft Re-Air Valve for Highly Efficient Pneumatic Actuation

S. Lee, D. Lee and, D. Shin
Soft Robotics, Vol. 8, No. 5, pp. 564-576, 2021.

Soft, Multi-DoF, Variable Stiffness Mechanism using Layer Jamming for Wearable Robots

W. H. Choi, S. Kim, D. Lee, and D. Shin
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 2539-2546, 2019.

A Novel Soft Pneumatic Artificial Muscle with High Contraction Ratio for Soft Robotics

K. H. Han, N. Kim and D. Shin
Soft Robotics, Vol. 5, No. 5, pp. 554-566, 2018.

PatLink : Patella-Inspired Linkage Joint for Force Transmission Mechansim

S. Lee, D. Lee and D. Shin
ICRA Conference, Yokohama, Japan, May 2024.

A Soft Wearable Robot for Upper Limb Assistance Using Layer Jamming Mechanisms

N. Kim, J. Park and D. Shin
ICRA Conference, Yokohama, Japan, May 2024.

Layer Jamming Mechanism의 강성 제어를 위한 PWM 기반 내부 압력 모델링

J. Park, N. Kim, S. Lee and D. Shin
KROS Winter Conference, Pyeongchang, Korea, January 2024.

Variable Impedance-Based Wearable Robot for Upper Limb Assistance

J. Park, N. Kim and D. Shin
KSPE 2023, Jeju, Korea, May 2023.

A Soft, Multi-DoF, Variable Stiffness Mechanism using Layer Jamming for Wearable Robots

W. H. Choi, S. H. Kim, D. Lee and D. Shin
2019 IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft), Seoul, Korea, April 2019.

Design of Recirculation System and Re-Vavle for Increasing the Compressing Efficiency

S. Lee, K. H. Han and D. Shin
Ubiquitous Robots and Ambient Intelligence (URAI) 2017, Jeju, Korea, Jun 2017.

Modeling of a Novel Soft Pneumatic Muscle

K. H. Han and D. Shin
In Proceedings of KSPE Spring Conference, Jeju Island, Korea, May 2017.

Development of a Novel Soft Pneumatic Muscle with High Contraction Ratio

K. H. Han and, D. Shin
In Proceedings of KSPE Spring Conference, Jeju Island, Korea, May 2016.