Development of Sheet-like Curved Type Pneumatic Rubber Muscle and Application to Elbow Power Assist Wear

The purpose of this study is to develop a sheet-like curved type pneumatic rubber muscle and the power assist wear to assist an activity of daily living of aged or disabled person. In view of using the power assist wear in daily life, it is required to have compact, light-weight and flexibility. The developed sheet-liked curved type pneumatic rubber muscle is made of rubber band, and it has a high affinity for human skin. In this paper, the characteristics and the effectiveness of the sheet-liked curved type pneumatic rubber muscle and the developed power assist wear are described.