5 papers · 1 filter
Design of a Variable Stiffness Spring with Human-Selectable Stiffness
Chase W. Mathews, David J. Braun
Springs are commonly used in wearable robotic devices to provide assistive joint torque without the need for motors and batteries. However, different tasks (such as walking or runn…
Design of a Parallel Elastic Actuator with a Continuously-Adjustable Equilibrium Position
Evangelos Chatziandreou, Chase W. Mathews, David J. Braun
In this paper, we present an adjustable-equilibrium parallel elastic actuator (AE-PEA). The actuator consists of a motor, an equilibrium adjusting mechanism, and a spring arranged…
Novel Spring Mechanism Enables Iterative Energy Accumulation under Force and Deformation Constraints
Cole A. Dempsey, David J. Braun
Springs can provide force at zero net energy cost by recycling negative mechanical work to benefit motor-driven robots or spring-augmented humans. However, humans have limited forc…
Controllable Mechanical-domain Energy Accumulators
Sung Y. Kim, David J. Braun
Springs are efficient in storing and returning elastic potential energy but are unable to hold the energy they store in the absence of an external load. Lockable springs use clutch…
High-energy-density 3D-printed Composite Springs for Lightweight and Energy-efficient Compliant Robots
Amanda Sutrisno, David J. Braun
Springs store mechanical energy similar to batteries storing electrical energy. However, conventional springs are heavy and store limited amounts of mechanical energy relative to b…