Transcend (TRANSportable Compact Elbow-exoskeletoN Design)
By: Jarren Berdal and Kenton Li
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisors: Dr. David Quintero and Dr. Hamid Mahmoodi
Transcend is a continuation of a research project that originated from Dr. Quintero’s Controls for Assistive and REhabilitation Robotics Lab (C.A.R.E. Lab). The creation of Transcend, which is an upper body elbow exo, is to provide stroke patients the ability to perform their rehabilitation exercises outside the hospital along with to allow them to perform everyday tasks. A previous research group was able to create the CAD for a table top version of the exo elbow. An arm brace for the exo was also built by another project team along with a rough design of a series elastic actuation unit. A prototype 3D printed planetary gearbox has been made as well but had tolerance issues and cannot turn. Investigating if a 3D printed gearbox can perform as well as a commercially bought one in order to cut the cost of the project and to explore the capabilities of 3D printed parts are the main goals of this project. To increase portability, components such as the DC motors, an external power source, and all electronics will be mounted onto a backpack-like unit.