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Grant support

This work was supported by the project LUXBIT: Lightweight Upper limbs eXosuit for BImanual Task Enhancement/Exoesqueleto ligero del tren superior para ayuda a tareas bimanuales under GrantRTI2018094346-BI00, funded by the Spanish "Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades". This paper was presented in part at the 2nd IEEE International Conference on Human-Machine Systems, Magdeburg, Germany, September 2021 [DOI: 10.1109/ICHMS53169.2021.9582447]. This articlewas recommended by Associate Editor J. Yang.

Analysis of institutional authors

Samper-Escudero, JlCorresponding AuthorGonzalez, MasuAuthorFerre, MAuthor

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Article

A Compact and Portable Exoskeleton for Shoulder and Elbow Assistance for Workers and Prospective Use in Space

Publicated to:Ieee Transactions On Human-Machine Systems. 53 (4): 668-677 - 2023-01-01 53(4), DOI: 10.1109/thms.2022.3186874

Authors: Luis Samper-Escudero, Jose; Coloma, Sofia; Angel Olivares-Mendez, Miguel; Sanchez-Uran Gonzalez, Miguel Angel; Ferre, Manuel;

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Abstract

Exoskeletons are wearable robotic devices that surround the anatomy of the user to work in tandem with it. Depending on their structure, exoskeletons can be classified as rigid or flexible. The structure of flexible exoskeletons is made of soft materials, such as fabrics, which adapt to user motion. Therefore, these devices are prone to becoming misaligned with the user, due to improper fitting and slipping of the exoskeleton components on the user body. This article describes a cable-driven exosuit, called LUXBIT, that favors its anatomical adaption to the user by arranging the fabric fibers and sewing patterns to transfer the mobilizing forces. This prototype integrates a novel deformable mechanism that promotes the natural lifting of the arm. LUXBIT is intended for bimanual assistance in daily living, being equipped with a backpack to this end. The results analyzed in this article show that LUXBIT reduces muscle activity in the upper limbs' flexion by ratios of up to 13.17% and allows the user to hold tiring postures for 62.91% longer.

Keywords

Assistive robotClampsCompliant mechanismCompliant robotElbowExoskeletonExoskeletonsExosuitFabricsMechanical cablesMotionMusclesRobotShoulderTextile-basedUpper limbs

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Ieee Transactions On Human-Machine Systems due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 8/32, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Computer Science, Cybernetics.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations from Scopus Elsevier, it yields a value for the Field-Weighted Citation Impact from the Scopus agency: 1.68, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 6.69 (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-01, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 2
  • Scopus: 17
  • OpenCitations: 14

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-01:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 18 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Luxembourg.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (SAMPER ESCUDERO, JOSÉ LUIS) and Last Author (FERRE PEREZ, MANUEL).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been SAMPER ESCUDERO, JOSÉ LUIS.