Publication: Preliminary investigation for the design of mechanical physiotherapist: to deflect a robotic arm by 10°.
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Date
2008-04-01
Authors
Lee, Chee Keong
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Abstract
Physiotherapy is a health care profession related with human movement and function to maximizing potential. In this project, a robot arm is used to conduct the physiotherapy exercises. The robot arm is designed and simulated using a Computer Aided Design (CAD) tool called SolidWorks before it is fabricated and assembled. The robot arm must be able to deflect by 10°, 20°, and 30°. This deflection may help to support the arm of the patient. Not only that, the robot arm is also able to help the patient to do simple exercises. To control the movement of the robot arm, a special program is developed using Microsoft Visual Basic 6. The signal form computer is manipulated so that the robot arm can function perfectly. The program alone does not able to control the robot arm. As a result, a suitable electrical and electronic circuit is designed and implemented. Because of the signal from computer does not able to drive the motor in the robot arm, a driver is used in the circuit. The driver consists of some electronic and electrical components like transistors, resistors and relays. Relays are used to control the high current voltage to the motor in the robot arm. To drive the relay, the signals from computer are amplified using transistors. A small current signal from computer is able to drive the motor in the robot arm so that it can able to function and deflect perfectly. As a result, the robot arm will be able to deflect by 10°.