arXiv subjects

Xianlong Mai

Publications and source records attributed to Xianlong Mai.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

An Ergonomic, Customizable Soft Robotic Glove toward Personalized Hand Rehabilitation

Hand impairment following neurological disorders substantially limits independence in activities of daily living, motivating the development of effective assistive and rehabilitation strategies. Soft robotic gloves have attracted growing interest in this context, yet persistent challenges in customization, ergonomic fit, and user comfort constrain their clinical utility. Here, we present an ergonomic, customizable fabric-based soft robotic glove whose actuators can be tailored to individual finger-joint geometry. The glove comprises five dual-action actuators supporting finger flexion and extension, together with a dedicated thumb abduction actuator. Leveraging computer numerical control heat sealing technology, we fabricated symmetrical-chamber actuators that adopt a concave outer surface upon inflation, thereby increasing finger contact area and improving comfort. Characterization confirmed joint moment and grasping force sufficient for ADL-relevant tasks. In ten healthy subjects, active assistance significantly reduced forearm muscle activity during manipulation, and a pilot study in three individuals with cervical spinal cord injury showed more natural grasp patterns and reduced reliance on tenodesis grasp.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2026

A wearable haptic device for edge and surface simulation

Object manipulation is fundamental to virtual reality (VR) applications, yet conventional fingertip haptic devices fail to render certain tactile features relevant for immersive and precise interactions, as i.e. detection of edges. This paper presents a compact, lightweight fingertip haptic device (24.3 g) that delivers distinguishable surface and edge contact feedback through a novel dual-motor mechanism. Pressure distribution characterization using a 6 x 6 flexible sensor array demonstrates distinct contact patterns between the two stimulation modes. A preliminary user study with five participants achieved 93% average classification accuracy across four conditions (edge/surface contact with light/heavy pressure), with mean response times of 2.79 seconds. The results indicate that the proposed device can effectively convey edge and surface tactile cues, potentially enhancing object manipulation fidelity in VR environments.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2025

Development of a magnetorheological hand exoskeleton featuring a high force-to-power ratio for enhanced grip endurance

Hand exoskeletons have significant potential in labor-intensive fields by mitigating hand grip fatigue, enhancing hand strength, and preventing injuries. However, most of the traditional hand exoskeletons are driven by motors, whose output force is limited in the constrained installation conditions. Besides, they also come with the disadvantages of high power consumption, complex and bulky assistive systems, and high instability. In this work, we develop a novel hand exoskeleton integrated with innovative magnetorheological (MR) clutches that offers a high force-to-power ratio to improve grip endurance. The clutch features an enhanced structure design, a micro roller enhancing structure, which can significantly boost output forces. The experimental data demonstrate that, when it is supplied with 2 V, the clutch can deliver a peak holding force of 381.15 N-55 times that when no voltage is provided (7 N). In this scenario, it only consumes 1.38 W, yielding a force-to-power ratio of 256.75N/W, which is 2.35 times higher than the best-reported actuator used for hand exoskeletons. This capability enables the designed MRHE to provide approximately 419.79 N support force for gripping. The designed MR hand exoskeleton is highly integrated, comprising an exoskeleton frame, MR clutches, a control unit, and a battery. Evaluations through static grip endurance tests and dynamic carrying and lifting tests confirm that the MR hand exoskeleton can effectively reduce muscle fatigue, extend grip endurance, and minimize injuries. These findings highlight its strong potential for practical applications in repetitive tasks such as carrying and lifting in industrial settings.

cs.RO↗