Environmental conditions and pressurized spacesuits expose astronauts to problems of fatigue during lengthy extravehicular activities, with adverse impacts especially on the dexterity, force and endurance of the hands and arms. A state-of-the-art exploration in the field of hand exoskeletons revealed that available products are unsuitable for space applications because of their bulkiness and mass. This book proposes a novel approach to the development of hand exoskeletons, based on an innovative soft robotics concept that relies on the exploitation of electroactive polymers operating as sensors and actuators, on a combination of electromyography and mechanomyography for detection of the user’s will and on neural networks for control. The result is a design that should enhance astronauts’ performance during extravehicular activities. In summary, the advantages of the described approach are a low-weight, high-flexibility exoskeleton that allows for dexterity and compliance with the user’s will.
Proposes a novel approach to the development of hand exoskeletons Presents a detailed comparison between hard robotics and soft robotics actuation/sensing systems Describes the concept for implementation of a new actuator, based on smart materials Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Pierluigi Freni
Combined EMG MMG Dielectric Elastomers Electroactive Polymers Extra-Vehicular Activities Hand Exoskeleton Smart Materials Soft Robotics