Project Design

System Architecture

The project utilizes an upper body exoskeleton with potentiometers that directly capture joint angle positions. The potentiometers will provide joint angle data by having their positions read by a microcontroller. The microcontroller will apply mapping, smoothing, and acceleration/deceleration algorithms to the angle data from the potentiometers. This data will be sent via a serial connection to a PC running a Python intermediary layer, which will translate the angle data to robot commands These commands will be passed to a Nao robot, which will copy the user’s movements in near real-time.

Electronics Architecture

Circuit Schematic
PCB Layout Design

Exoskeleton Design/Implementation

Wrist Joint
Shoulder Joint
Elbow Joint
Back Mount
Upper Body Assembly
Implemented Part of Exoskeleton
Exoskeleton on a person