4D Knitting Grip Assist Glove Based on Shape Memory Alloys: Wearable Device Development and Functionality Assessment

There is an increasing demand for soft wearable assistive devices that can assist finger grip for the elderly and disabled people with weakened hand functions. Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs), which transform themselves and return to their original shape by temperature changes, have been integrated into the development of wearable device actuation. In this study, we have successfully developed a 4D knitting grip assist glove that can assist grip to people with weak finger strength as much as 8 times in the curvature ratio. Further, we developed a soft gripper that can grip soft objects that are typically difficult to grip with existing robot-type machines. This study demonstrated the application potential of SMAs in wearable assistive devices that could be worn or attached to the human body. The outcomes of this study recommend future research to assess user safety and performance enhancement of such wearable devices in real-world contexts.