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Development of Portable Rehabilitation Device Using Flexible Spherical Actuator with Built-in Embedded Controller and Valves

Hiroaki Tamaki, Shujiro Dohta, Tetsuya Akagi, and Yasuko Matsui
Department of Intelligent Mechanical Engineering, Okayama University of Science, Okayama, Japan

Abstract—This study aims at developing a potable rehabilitation device which can be safe to use during holding it by both hands. In our previous study, a novel flexible pneumatic cylinder that can be used even if it is deformed by external force has been developed. A portable rehabilitation device using the flexible spherical actuator that consists of two ring-shaped flexible pneumatic cylinders was proposed and tested. In this paper, more portable and lower-cost rehabilitation device using the spherical actuator that includes the built-in embedded controller and valves is proposed and tested. The attitude control of the device using the built-in controller is executed. As a result, the portable rehabilitation device that it is possible to give the rehabilitation motions to patients with sequential control can be realized. The whole cost of the device can be reduced by a one-third.
Index Terms—portable rehabilitation device, flexible pneumatic cylinder, flexible spherical actuator, embedded controller, low cost

Cite: Hiroaki Tamaki, Shujiro Dohta, Tetsuya Akagi, and Yasuko Matsui, "Development of Portable Rehabilitation Device Using Flexible Spherical Actuator with Built-in Embedded Controller and Valves," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol.4, No. 4, pp. 314-318, October 2015. DOI: 10.18178/ijmerr.4.4.314-318