Soft Exoskeleton for Hand Rehabilitation: An Overview

Robotics based rehabilitation have attracted much attention during the past two decades. Recent intensive research publications in the area indicates that soft exoskeleton is one of the promising technologies for robotic-based rehabilitation. This paper aims to review the up-to-date research work in soft exoskeletons material, manufacturing, sensing and control for hand rehabilitation. Applied materials, its preferred properties, and manufacturing technologies of soft exoskeletons are reviewed. Different position and force sensing technologies as well as recent control techniques applying bio-signals as control signals are reviewed. The major challenges, which are also recommendations for future research work, are highlighted.