The AIF funded project pneumatic muscle driven Exoskeleton is a joint project of the companies and universities:

• sachs holding GmbH,
• Meyer-Hayoz Design Engineering,
• TU Chemnitz Professorship for Assembly and Design Handling Technology (MHT) and
• Berlin University of Applied Sciences working group softrobotics of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ivo W. Boblan.

An interdisciplinary consortium from the fields of lightweight construction, ergonomics and design, kinematics and drive technology as well as control technology developed an exoskeleton as a lifting aid for physically demanding and monotonously repetitive activities. The human effort should be reduced and transferred to the exoskeleton. This not only relieves the wearer physically but also cognitively and allows them to carry out their work with higher quality. Movements when lifting loads should be supported by pneumatic muscles with a relief of 5-10 kg. Such a handling aid, which works on the principle of power steering, is intended to physically support people who work for several hours a day and to prevent musculoskeletal diseases. In order to increase the acceptance and wearing comfort of the handling aid, the exoskeleton is integrated into clothing and provided with additional properties, such as cooling. Utilization is aimed at activities dealing with loads in the areas of production, assembly, logistics and in geriatric and nursing care.

The Lab is responsible for the development of measuring and control technology for the exoskeleton.