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Exoarm: a $100 Arduino-Powered Exoskeleton Arm

By on July 25, 2017
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Whether to enhance one’s abilities or to compensate for a loss of strength due to a variety of reasons, the idea of a robotic exoskeleton is an exciting prospect. Furthermore if you are able to create it for only $100, it will certainly be a success.

The maker Kristjan Berce decided to make his own prototype assistive arm using simple hand tools to manufacture a bracing system over his left arm.

Exoarm is controlled by an Arduino Uno that powers a windshield wiper motor via a driver board. As set up now, it extends via sensor input, and contracts with the push of a button.

All you need for this project is:

  • Strain Gauge with Load Cell Amplifier
  • Aluminum 4 x 30 x at least 2000mm
  • Arduino Uno/Nano
  • VNH2SP30 motor driver
  • Car Windshield Wiper Motor
  • Long wires
  • Potentiometer
  • Li-Po battery 3S 5500mAh
  • Dad’s hand held lawnmower thing that you put around your body and suspend the lawnmower on
  • Screws and nuts. M4 and M6
  • Duct tape
  • Zipties
  • Rope or old dog’s leash
  • Wooden plates
  • Heat shrink tube

Though it can be seen helping him lift a bicycle at the end of his video, figuring out how to balance any load on the system with his actual muscle’s input is a challenge he’s still working on, but hopes to solve this issue using a strain gauge.

You can follow the project’s progress here.

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About Luca Ruggeri

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