Muscular fabric that helps strength

 

Muscle fabrics have been developed to aid in lifting heavy loads or rehabilitation training.

 

Robot Research at Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM),

In 2018, KIMM developed a smart robot prosthetic leg that significantly reduced weight, size, and power consumption while improving safety and durability. It measures the wearer's walking speed and the slope of the ground instantly, and adjusts the force of rotation and acceleration to help natural walking. In terms of price, the selling price was reduced from US$70,000 (80 million won) to US$13,000 (15 million won) (1/5).

wipsglobal.com
KR patent, 10-2207703
titled "Robot artificial leg and method of operating robot artificial leg"

Development of muscle fabric using Shape-memory alloy (SMA)

Since then, the KIMM has continued research on robots to help the disabled or the elderly with disabilities in walking. This time, a muscle fabric was developed using a shape-memory alloy. Shape-memory alloys have the mystical nature of returning to the original shape as it is given a constant temperature no matter how much the shape is changed. Because of these properties, it is also used in orthodontic wires, glasses, and various mechanical devices.

Fabric that lifts 1500 times weight

The researchers made a shape-memory alloy that is thinner than 1/2 of the hair in a spring-shaped thread, and then made it as if weaving a cloth together with a regular cloth. This palm-sized fabric can be cut or folded like a real fabric, weighs 6.6g which is only about a paper cup, but it can lift up to 10kg (2), and if you wear 700g, which is about the weight of jeans, it can lift up to 20kg (3). ). This muscle fabric is the electricity of a small battery that contracts and relaxes like the muscles of our body to add strength. It was confirmed that it can make it possible various movements such as sitting, standing, climbing stairs, lifting heavy loads using only 50% of the muscle strength that was normally used if the cloth was attached to the muscles of the legs or arms.

wipsglobal.com
KR patent, 10-1827815
titled "Artificial muscle, Manufacturing method for the artificial muscle module
and control system of the artificial muscle module"

wipsglobal.com
KR patent, 10-1922556 
titled "Muscular strength assistance device using the shape memory alloy spring"

Muscle fabric research and expansion of use

The research team plans to promote the technology transfer of wearable robots for assistive strength clothing in the future, and also plans to continue research on making the spring thread thinner. In addition, it’s expected that it will be possible to create a variety of new industries by applying muscle fabrics to a wide range of fields such as delivery service, wearable rehabilitation equipment, and massagers. We look forward to the day when this wearable robot is commercialized and many people in need of strength will get help.