Pranav Parikh

Graduation Semester and Year

2015

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Alan P Bowling

Abstract

This work investigates robotic means to prevent pressure ulcers in human bodies. The smart bed is intended to act as an intelligent assistant to a care-giver that relieves some of the physical and mental burden involved in preventing pressure ulcers. This type of device is needed because of a labor shortage in the nursing field. The smart bed distinguishes itself from the current available measures by redistributing pressure and minimizing shear forces acting on the skin in contact. This is done by using data from the sensor grid installed on the bed surface and actuating the degrees of freedom associated with the smart bed. Interaction with human body needs contact and impact analysis. Using computational dynamics and computer simulations, a human body is approximated with a flexible object. By doing impact analysis using energy compensation method, and checking the energy consistency we can study the interaction, and validate the correctness of the results.

Keywords

Flexible body impact analysis, Computational dynamics, Flexible body dynamics

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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