Wearable robots are limited by their actuators performances because they must bear the weight of their own power system and energy source. Our research explores the idea of leveraging hybrid modes to meet multiple operating points with a lightweight and efficient system by using hydraulic valves to dynamically reconfigure the connections of a hydrostatic actuator.
Technical challenges: Actuator design, mechatronics, hybrid systems, fluid mechanics.
UdeS Team: Jeff Denis (PhD student), Alex Lecavalier (MS student) and Prof. Alexandre Girard