Design and development of a passive shoulder support exoskeleton
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Date
2025-09-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UMT Lahore
Abstract
The design and development of a passive shoulder support exoskeleton is presented in this Thesis with the goal of minimising muscular strain in manual and industrial work situations during extended overhead duties. The lightweight, entirely mechanical exoskeleton supports the user’s upper limb without limiting their range of motion by using a ratchet pawl system and spring-loaded help. This passive technology is less expensive, uses less energy, and may be used in low-resource environments because it doesn’t require motors or other power sources like active exoskeletons do. CAD software was used to create the design, and fabricate using ABS material through 3D printing. Structural analysis was performed using Ansys Workbench to guarantee mechanical integrity under load. The device’s efficacy was assessed using electromyography (EMG) testing, which revealed a notable approximately 50% decrease in deltoid muscle activity during overhead exercises. With features that could be adjusted for user comfort and height alignment, the prototype demonstrated both functionality and ergonomics. In physically demanding jobs, this passive exoskeleton has a great potential to increase productivity, decrease work-related musculoskeletal diseases (WMSDs), and improve workplace ergonomics.