A Lower Extremity Soft Robotic Exoskeleton

Humans and other animals walk in a way that minimizes energy consumption. We take advantage of inertial passive dynamics and elastic energy storage and return to create a walking pattern that is extremely economical [1]. A reduction in energy consumption during walking might be achieved by supplying external mechanical power to the joints of the lower limbs. With additional mechanical power applied to the joints, a human could engage in physical activity for longer durations of time before fatigue sets in. This same concept could be applied for rehabilitation purposes to supplement mechanical power for impaired muscles [2].