• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.444-455
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• 2023

In this report, a specialization plan for wearable robots by mission profile was investigated and analyzed to derive an application plan. The final goal of this study was to derive the operating requirements of wearable robots according to specialized plans, and to conduct a specialized study on wearable robots by mission profile through investigation/analysis of specialized plans for each mission profile. In the study, 1) Research on technology trends related to military wearable robots such as patents and papers, 2) Research/analysis of mission profiles to characterize wearable robots, 3) Analysis of wearable robot specialization plans according to mission profiles, and 4) Requirements for wearable robot operation were derived. In the first time of the study, a survey on technology trends related to wearable robots for soldiers such as patents and papers was completed, and a military consultative body was conducted to derive measures to characterize wearable robots. In addition, a survey was conducted on mission profiles, and the second time study derived Key Performance Parameters (KPP) for operational performance, core performance, and system performance based on scenarios by mission profile. However, it is revealed that the KPP derived from the research results was not covered in this paper because it was judged that more in-depth research was needed prior to disclosure. In order to prepare for future battlefield situations and increase the usability of wearable robots, this study was conducted to characterize wearable robots by considering the characteristics of soldiers' equipment according to mission profiles and to characterize wearable robots by mission profile.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.79-95
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• 2014

We are at the dawn of a new era in which the importance of robots will be evaluated on the basis of not only their functions but also their appearance. Therefore, those manufacturers who continue to develop robots that only offer convenience and do not keep up with the emerging trends might be weeded out from the robot market in the future. This study empirically tested and verified the ways in which the commercial value of wearable robots is enhanced when they are stylishly attired, using user and work environment analysis. For the purpose of this study, a styling development project for wearable robots was undertaken and applied to the actual development of these robots. Based on the results of the study, a new styling process for such robots was established. Those manufacturers who will realize the importance of styling of robots and develop robots using this process shall become the trendsetters in designing stylized robots and lead the robot industry in the future.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.531-537
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• 2015

Hand function is one of the essential functions required to perform the activities of daily living, and wearable robots that assist or recover hand functions have been consistently developed. Previously, wearable robots commonly employed conventional robotic technology such as linkage which consists of rigid links and pin joints. Recently, as the interest in soft robotics has increased, many attempts to develop a wearable robot with a soft structure have been made and are in progress in order to reduce size and weight. This paper presents the concept of a soft wearable robot composed of a soft structure by comparing it with conventional wearable robots. After that, currently developed soft wearable robots and related issues are introduced.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1004-1016
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• 2021

This study aims to derive the design requirements for functional clothing worn with military wearable robots using a survey of people with military experience. Specifically, 982 adult males with military and muscular exercise experience were surveyed for their demands for the clothing worn with wearable robots during military activities. The study showed that it is necessary to develop functional clothing worn inside robots suitable for frequent movements of soldiers to improve their comfort level of wearable robots. The surveyed soldiers indicated that they preferred the top and bottom clothing with high-pressure levels because the upper body felt fatigued during transportation, while both the upper and lower body got exhausted during marches. The survey of design requirements revealed that the participants preferred a top with long sleeves and a bottom with ankle-length leggings in color similar to current military uniforms. We conclude that it is important to design functional clothing worn inside wearable robots in different forms depending on frequent movements, e.g., with differentiated pressures and material placements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1178-1188
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• 2020

This study obtains preliminary data through a multifaceted examination of work undertaken by soldiers and factors that should be considered in the development of wearable robots; in addition, the study explores the development direction for such robots in this segment. This study conducted a survey on males who had military experience in order to analyze work practices. The results of the survey indicate that there has been an existing need for wearable robots for soldiers and that soldiers prefer robots equipped with functions to support specific physical activities and those that offer comfort while being worn. In addition, it was found that the method to wear robots should be developed according to the body part that considered movements performed by soldiers. It was also found that strengthening functionality over aesthetic factors is extremely important. Soldiers desired wearable robots that could assist their main activities, protect their bodies, and incorporated an excellent system in terms of wearability.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2017

Wearable robots are receiving great attention from the public, as well as researchers, because its motivation is to improve the quality of lives of people. Above all, complete paraplegic patients due to spinal cord injury (SCI) might be the most adequate target users of the wearable robots, because they definitely need physical assistance due to the complete loss of muscular strength and sensory functions. Furthermore, the medical care of complete paraplegics by using the wearable robots have significantly reduced the mortality rate and improved the life expectancy. The requirements of the wearable robot for complete paraplegics are actuation torque, locomotion speed, wearing sensation, robust gait stability, safety, and practicality (i.e., size, volume, weight, and energy efficiency). A WalkON Suit is the wearable robot that has satisfied the requirements of the wearable robot for complete paraplegics and participated in the powered exoskeleton race of Cybathlon 2016. In this paper, configuration of the WalkON Suit, human-machine interface, gait pattern, control algorithm, and evaluation results are introduced.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.640-655
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• 2019

Technology status was investigated by analyzing patents and development cases of wearable robots. Development direction of wearable robot for wearability was also suggested by understanding the problems of wearability from development cases through the FGI technique. The number of patents per technical field was the most in the field of strength support, but AI in the technology field was different in each country; Korea was found to be poor in the category of daily living assistance. The number of patents by technology category was the most in the category of muscular strength assistance. However, the values of AI in the technology category were different in each country; Korea was found to be poor in the category of daily living assistance. Development cases were focused on rehabilitation, so development is not fulfilled uniformly by use purpose. By wearing body parts, robots with single function type were mainly developed. Rigid material robots were mainly developed. It was confirmed that wearable robot technology is not developed evenly in the category of application because it is in the early stage of the technical proposal and centered on main performance improvement. We derived twelve wearable conditions for wearable robots: Shape and Size Appropriateness, Movement Appropriateness, Composition Appropriateness, Physiological Appropriateness, Performance Satisfaction, Ease of Operation, Safety, Durability, Ease of Dressing, Ease of Cleaning, Portability and Ease of Storage and Appearance Satisfaction. Finally, the development direction of a wearable robot for each wearable condition was suggested.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.313-323
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• 2023

The wearable robot system is designed to assist human skeletal and muscular systems for enhancing user's abilities in various fields, including medical, industrial, and military. The military has an expanding need for wearable robots with the integration of surveillance/control systems and advanced equipment in unstructured battlefield environments. However, there is a lack of research on the design and mechanism of wearable robots, especially for power assist systems. This study proposes a lightweight wearable robot system that provides comfortable wear and muscle support effects in various movements for soldiers performing high-strength and endurance missions. The Power assist mechanism is described and verified, and the tasks that require power assist are analyzed. This study explain the system including its driving mechanism, control system, and mechanical design. Finally, the performance of the robot is verified through experiments and evaluations, demonstrating its effectiveness in muscle support.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.387-396
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• 2022

Logistics industry still heavily relies on human labor in many field processes. However, robot applications in logistics are rapidly increasing, encouraged by technological progresses in robotics and cheaper robot solutions from competition between robot suppliers. Effectiveness of logistics automation are higher productivity for cost reduction and increased process capabilities for better profit, which is witnessed in many fields of logistics industry. In this paper, differences in logistics services - contract logistics, parcel, and fulfillment - are addressed, and characteristics and issues in application of various kinds of logistics robots such as AGV, AMR, ASRS, box/piece handling robots and robotic wearable devices are discussed. The advantages from flexibility and scalability of logistics automation by robots will benefit the future logistics business.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.433-440
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• 2012

Various studies to improve the physical abilities of the human have been steadily continued from the past to the present. Only recently such technology has been realized, and those are expected to replace or complement human beings in large part. In this paper, the current status of developed wearable robots is investigated and studies were conducted in order to apply the types of robots in industry spot. In order to apply wearable exoskeleton robot to industry which enhances human physical capability, driving range of the robot's degrees of freedom were selected by analyzing working motion, and augmentative exoskeleton structure design process is presented by analyzing require torque and power during selected working motion. At the end of this paper, the designed mock-up is introduced to validate the feasibility of designed robot.