Original Article

Product-semantics based form design of active wearable upper-limb exoskeletons

¹ College of Fashion and Design Art, Sichuan Normal University (SICNU), Chengdu, China
² China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, Beijing, China

^* e-mail: h_wu@sicnu.edu.cn

Received: 16 October 2024
Received: 29 December 2024

Abstract

With the development of wearable exoskeletons, people's demand for wearable exoskeletons is no longer limited to functionality alone. The aesthetics and symbolic meanings of wearable exoskeletons have also become a focus of attention. This paper aims to propose a method for designing the form of active wearable upper-limb exoskeletons based on product semantics, in order to enhance their form design to meet workshop scenarios and satisfy the physical and mental needs of users. Firstly, it analyzes product symbols and uncovers the appearance semantics, function semantics, symbolic semantics, and market semantics of wearable exoskeletons based on the product semantics. Then, the design process for the form design of active wearable upper-limb exoskeletons based on product semantics is proposed. Finally, design verification is implemented through design proposals of active wearable upper-limb exoskeletons used in logistics handling, fully considering the intrinsic connection between exoskeletons and their product semantics without interfering with the key technical structure of the exoskeleton and effectively integrating refined product semantic symbols into design practice. This can improve the functional utility of exoskeletons, enhance user experience, endow them with rich sociocultural and emotional connotations, and increase market competitiveness.