Improving the quality-of-life of quadriplegic patients is the most important feature for assistive technology. Despite the availability of advanced assistive technologies and robotic exoskeleton systems, their high cost, invasiveness, and usefulness can make them difficult to incorporate into daily activities. Our research group have developed a tracer-free Multifunctional intraORal Assistive technology (MORA) to enable various input modalities through tongue motions to access computers, wheelchairs, and smartphones.
We now approach the development of a wearable robotic sleeve that uses the MORA system to allow a quadriplegic user to control their arm. Our design, the Kinematically Assistive Robotic Arm (KARA), focused on low-cost (less than $500), is an easy-to-mount exoskeleton device that can aid the user physically express within social interactions, thus ultimately benefiting their emotional and mental recovery as well as rehabilitation effects.
Current version of Exoskeleton Hardwear
Actual implementation of the KARA System that attached to the electric powered wheelchair in back and side views: (a) KARA control board, (b) upper back shoulder gearbox with a motor and custom-designed gears mounted, (c) upper limb cuff, (d) wrist cuff with hand/finger motors, (e) soft robot for hand and finger motions, (f) elbow and upper arm joint gearbox with a motor and the custom-designed gears mounted.
