Hybrid Assistive Knee Braces with Smart Actuators

The project team lead by Professor Liao Wei Hsin (Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering) is developing a Hybrid Assistive Knee Braces helping people with Osteoarthritis or weak muscle strength.

A magnetorheological fluid (MR fluid) is a type of smart fluid in a carrier fluid. When subjected to a magnetic field, the fluid greatly increases its apparent viscosity, to the point of becoming a viscoelastic solid.

In this project, the new hybrid assistive knee brace is developed utilizing a magneto-rheological (MR) actuator. The MR device can function as a clutch or a brake as needed. While functioning as a clutch, the output inertia can be made small and the system is much safer thant the direct use of motor; while functioning as a brake, the MR device can produce large torque and consume little power.