Design and Development of a Portable Mannequin
Disciplines
Biomechanics and Biotransport | Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation | Mechanical Engineering | Other Mechanical Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Traditionally, researchers use specific mannequins having similar mobility to the human upper body to test the validity of their exoskeleton designs. However, most of the mannequins available in the market are expensive, heavy, and not portable. This project focuses on designing and developing a portable mannequin that can be used in upper body exoskeleton design projects. The vast majority of the exoskeletons utilize two pancake motors to replicate the shoulder motion and an additional motor to actuate the elbow joint. Since these motors are heavy, the mannequin is designed to support the weight of these motors and any other device that is attached to the exoskeleton. The arms are built by two rigid bodies that are connected by revolute joints. The shoulder joint consists of a 3D-printed ball and socket, and the elbow joint consists of a ball-bearing hinge design. The torso was designed to be rigid, low-cost, and simple enough to replicate. To ensure that the mannequin’s weight would not affect portability, most of the assembly is 3D printed using Polylactic acid (PLA). The designs for the 3D printed models are also simple enough to be replicated by other research teams who need a setup for testing. This project was successful in finding methods to design and create an exoskeleton that would be viable for exoskeleton teams. Further research into this project could lead to greater improvements that would increase the likelihood of success for exoskeleton teams.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Mechanical Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Ayse Tekes
Design and Development of a Portable Mannequin
Traditionally, researchers use specific mannequins having similar mobility to the human upper body to test the validity of their exoskeleton designs. However, most of the mannequins available in the market are expensive, heavy, and not portable. This project focuses on designing and developing a portable mannequin that can be used in upper body exoskeleton design projects. The vast majority of the exoskeletons utilize two pancake motors to replicate the shoulder motion and an additional motor to actuate the elbow joint. Since these motors are heavy, the mannequin is designed to support the weight of these motors and any other device that is attached to the exoskeleton. The arms are built by two rigid bodies that are connected by revolute joints. The shoulder joint consists of a 3D-printed ball and socket, and the elbow joint consists of a ball-bearing hinge design. The torso was designed to be rigid, low-cost, and simple enough to replicate. To ensure that the mannequin’s weight would not affect portability, most of the assembly is 3D printed using Polylactic acid (PLA). The designs for the 3D printed models are also simple enough to be replicated by other research teams who need a setup for testing. This project was successful in finding methods to design and create an exoskeleton that would be viable for exoskeleton teams. Further research into this project could lead to greater improvements that would increase the likelihood of success for exoskeleton teams.