• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 2010

This study proposes a lower-limb exoskeleton system that is controlled by a wearer's muscle activity. This system is designed by following procedure. First, analyze the muscle activation patterns of human leg while walking. Second, select the adequate actuator to support the human walking based on calculation of required force of knee joint for step walking. Third, unit type knee and ankle orthotics are integrated with selected actuator. Finally, using this knee-assistive system (KAS) and developed muscle stiffness sensors (MSS), the muscle activity pattern of the subject is analyzed while he is walking on the stair. This study proposes an operating algorithm of KAS based on command signal of MSS which is generated by motion intent of human. A healthy and normal subject walked while wearing the developed powered-knee exoskeleton on his/her knees, and measured effectively assisted plantar flexor strength of the subject's knees and those neighboring muscles. Finally, capabilities and feasibility of the KAS are evaluated by testing the adapted motor pattern and the EMG signal variance while walking with exoskeleton. These results shows that developed exoskeleton which controlled by muscle activity could help human's walking acceptably.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1147-1152
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• 2004

The objective of this work is to develop a new design method to find optimal coils, especially the optimal coil configuration of an optical pickup actuator. In designing actuator coils, the developed Lorenz force in the coils along the desired direction should be made as large as possible while forces and torques in other directions should be made as small as possible. The design methodology we are developing is a systematic approach that can generate optimal coil configurations for given permanent magnet configurations. To consider the best coil configuration among all feasible coil configurations, we formulate the design problem as a topology optimization of a coil. The present formulation for coil design is noble in the sense that the existing topology optimization is mainly concerned with the design of yokes and permanent magnets and that the optimization of actuator coils is so far limited within shape or size optimization. Though the present design methodology applies to any problem, the specific design example considered is the design of fine-pattern tracking and focusing coils.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2013

Smart material such as SMA (Shape Memory Alloy) has been studied in various ways because it can perform continuous, flexible, and complex actuation in simple structure. Smart soft composite (SSC) was developed to achieve large deformation of smart material. In this paper, a shell actuator using woven type SSC was developed to enhance stiffness of the structure while keeping its deformation capacity. The fabricated actuator consisted of a flexible polymer and woven structure which contains SMA wires and glass fibers. The actuator showed various actuation motions by controlling a pattern of applied electricity because the SMA wires are embedded in the structure as fibers. To verify the actuation ability, we measured its maximum end-edge bending angle, twisting angle, and actuating force, which were $103^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, and 0.15 N, respectively.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.2187-2193
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• 2002

We present a novel method for 3D microfabrication with LIGA process that utilizes a deep X-ray mask in which a micro-actuator is integrated. The integrated micro-actuator oscillates the X-ray absorber, which is formed on the shuttle mass of the micro-actuator, during X-ray exposures to modify the absorbed dose profile in X-ray resist, typically PMMA. 3D PMMA microstructures according to the modulated dose contour are revealed after GG development. An X-ray mask with integrated comb drive actuator is fabricated using deep reactive ion etching, absorber electroplating, and bulk micromachining with silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. 1mm $\times$ 1 mm, 20 $\mu$m thick silicon shuttle mass as a mask blank is supported by four 1 mm long suspension beams and is driven by the comb electrodes. A 10 $\mu$m thick, 50 $\mu$m line and spaced gold absorber pattern is electroplated on the shuttle mass before the release step. The fundamental frequency and amplitude are around 3.6 kHz and 20 $\mu$m, respectively, for a do bias of 100 V and an ac bias of 20 $V_{p-p}$ (peak-peak). Fabricated PMMA microstructure shows 15.4 $\mu$m deep, S-shaped cross section in the case of 1.6 kJ $cm^{-3}$ surface dose and GG development at 35$^{\circ}C$ for 40 minutes.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.353-360
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• 2007

This paper proposes the trot gait pattern generation and online control methods for a quadruped robot to carry heavy loads and to move fast on uneven terrain. The trot pattern is generated from the frequency modulated pattern generation method based on the frequency modulated oscillator in order for the legged robots to be operated outdoor environment with the static and dynamic mobility. The efficiency and performance of the proposed method are verified through computer simulations and experiments using qRT-1/-2. In the experiments, qRT-2 which has two front legs driven by hydraulic linear actuators and two rear casters is used. The robot can trot at the speed up to 1.3 m/s on even surface, walk up and down the 20 degree inclines, and walk at 0.7 m/s on uneven surface. Also it can carry over 100 kg totally including 40 kg payload.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.442-448
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• 2002

In the earth telescope for space observation, the adaptive optical (AO) system that immediately compensates atmospheric turbulence is helpful to get high-resolution images. An adaptive optics for earth telescopes is very attractive, since the Earth telescopes can be made at lower costs and have larger optical apertures than space telescopes. Generally. in order to remove the wavefront error produced by atmospheric turbulence, a deformable mirror, whose surface shape changes in a controllable way in response to a drive signal, is used. The characteristics and patterns of actuators are very important for the effective control of a deformable mirror. The mirror surface shape deformed by one actuator is defined as an influence function and the deformable mirror can be effectively modeled and designed using this influence function. In this paper. by simplifying the actual influence function obtained by FEM analyses into the Gaussian function and introducing the coupling coefficient between actuators, the influence function is constructed. The proper coupling coefficient of the target system can be obtained by performance analyses of a deformable mirror for various coupling coefficients. Using the constructed influence function, the deformable mirror with equally spaced triangular and square actuator patterns is analyzed for various spacings and an effective actuator pattern is proposed.

• Journal of Institute of Convergence Technology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.6-15
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• 2011

This paper reports the design and fabrication of a micro-electro-mechanical-system(MEMS)-based electrostatic angular microactuator for a dual-stage servo. The proposed actuator employs a novel electrode pattern named "skewed electrode array(SEA)" scheme. It is shown that SEA has better linearity than a parallel plate type actuator and stronger force than a comb-drive based actuator. The moving and the fixed electrodes are arranged to make the driving force perpendicular to the rotating moment of arm. By changing the electrode overlap length, the magnitude of electrostatic force and stable displacement will be changed. In order to optimize the design, an electrostatic FE analysis was carried out and an empirical force model was established for SEA. A new assembly method which will allow the active electrodes to be located beneath the slider was developed. The active electrodes are connected by inner and outer rings lifted on the base substrate, and the inner and outer rings are connected to platform on which the slider locates. Electrostatic force between active electrodes and platform can be used for exiting out of plane modes, so this provides the possibility of the flying height control. A microactuator that can position the pico-slider over ${\pm}0.5{\mu}m$ using under 20 volts for a 2 kHz fine-tracking servo was designed and fabricated using SoG process.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2013

This paper presents a new miniature haptic display to convey ample haptic information to a user of a handheld interface. There are buttons on interfaces or general electronic devices, but existing buttons provide haptic feedback of only one passive pattern to a user. Because humans perceive tactile and kinesthetic information simultaneously when they handle objects the proposed actuator provides both sensations at once. It is able to generate various levels of kinesthetic sensations when pressing a button under diverse situations. Also, vibrotactile feedback can be delivered for exciting haptic effects with numerous patterns. Its performance was evaluated in accordance with the resistive force by changing the intensity of the input current. Experiments show that the proposed actuator has the ability to provide numerous haptic sensations for more realistic and complex haptic experiences.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.294-298
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• 2008

The ionic polymer-metal composite actuators with selectively grown multiple electrodes were developed to mimic the swimming locomotion of a fish. The developed method is based on combining electroplating with the electroless chemical reduction using the patterned mask. The advantages of this fabrication method are that the initial compositing between the polymer and platinum particles can be assured by the chemical reduction method, and the thickness of each electrode can be controlled easily and rapidly by electroplating. By using the fabricated actuator with a multiple degree of freedom, the oscillatory wave of the flexible membrane actuator was generated and a twisting motion was also realized to verify the possibility of mimicking the fish-like locomotion. The frequency response function was analyzed to investigate the natural frequency and the damping factor by a mechanical shaker and direct electrical excitation through the swept-sine method. Present results show that this novel method can be a promising technique to easily pattern each of multiple electrodes and to implement the biomimetic motion of the polymer actuators with good mechanical bending performance.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1246-1253
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• 2007

The recent issue of optical pickup actuators is to apply optical storage devices to mobile devices such as a cellular phone and PDA. It requires actuators to become smaller than conventional types. As the size becomes smaller, the magnetic force is reduced and the assembly of optical pickup actuators becomes more difficult. In addition, its dynamic characteristics are changed. In this paper, methods to improve magnetic forces and dynamic characteristics are suggested and the optimal result of the plate spring design is obtained. A diamond shape magnet and the fine pattern coil (FPC) are used to improve magnetic forces and damping elements are attached to decrease the peak magnitude of the mode instead of using structural damping, mostly for the purpose of improving the accuracy of the finite element simulation. To get more stable dynamic characteristics than conventional ones, a plate spring is applied to the optical pickup actuator and it is optimized with topology and parameter optimization to obtain the concept and the detail design, respectively.