Exoarm: a $100 Arduino-Powered Exoskeleton Arm

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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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