The Role of Strapping Forces on Human Exoskeleton Interaction Pressure - A Pilot Study

The study of physical human-exoskeleton interaction (pHEI) has been largely unexplored due to rapid technological advancements in the field and the challenges in quantifying these interactions. Accurately measuring and assessing interaction pressure poses significant technical challenges, including reliably estimating contact area and pressure distribution during motion, as well as interpreting these pressure values in terms of user safety. This study aims to address these challenges by investigating the effects of different strapping forces and joint misalignments on interaction pressure and contact area during exoskeleton use. Various tests under different misalignment and strapping force levels were conducted on an instrumented dummy limb to ensure consistent testing conditions. Results indicate that strapping forces and misalignments significantly impact pressure peaks and contact area, underscoring the difficulty in generalizing safety thresholds. This research bridges gaps in pHEI pressure measurements and supports the development of safer exoskeleton technologies. It also focuses on the crucial aspect of safely attaching exoskeletons to the human body, emphasizing the importance of controlling initial attachment conditions.