Design and Development of Soft Exoskeleton for Rehabilitation and Assistive Robotics

Abstract

In the field of rehabilitation and support, where it is essential to ensure safe interactions between humans and
technology, soft actuators and robotic devices are causing a stir. Soft actuators and robotic devices have several
advantages over their stiff counterparts, such as safer interactions, the capacity to execute intricate movements,
simpler construction, and environmental adaptation. Over the past few decades, a lot of effort has gone into creating
soft rehabilitation and assistive devices aimed at enhancing medical treatments and improving quality of life.
Actuators and grippers are examples of soft robotic systems that have been used in many commercial applications
over the past ten years. Scientific interest in activities involving close human-robot contact has increased, especially
in the field of human exoskeletons, as a result of the rising need to incorporate robotic mechanisms into devices that
work alongside people. Patients with neurological disorders and movement issues are usually helped and
rehabilitated by these exoskeletons. In this regard, a soft robotic hand exoskeleton system with advanced airpressurized
soft actuators created with additive manufacturing methods has been designed and developed.