Exoskeleton, orthosis, wearable device or mobile robots using magnetorheological fluid clutch apparatus

A system comprising:

• at least one wearable device including
• a first body interface adapted to be secured to a first bodily part,
• at least a second body interface adapted to be secured to a second bodily part separated from the first bodily part by a physiological joint;
• a magnetorheological (MR) fluid actuator unit comprising
• at least one power source,
• at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus receiving torque from the at least one power source, the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus operable to generate a variable amount of torque transmission when subjected to a magnetic field;
• and
• a transmission coupling the MR fluid actuator unit to the wearable device for converting torque from the MR fluid actuator unit to relative movement of the body interfaces with respect to one another;
• wherein the MR fluid actuator unit is located remotely from the wearable device as mounted on a dorsal support adapted to be worn by a user.

A system comprising:

• at least one wearable device including
• a first body interface adapted to be secured to a first bodily part,
• at least a second body interface adapted to be secured to a second bodily part separated from the first bodily part by a physiological joint;
• a magnetorheological (MR) fluid actuator unit comprising
• at least one power source,
• at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus receiving torque from the at least one power source, the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus operable to generate a variable amount of torque transmission when subjected to a magnetic field;
• and
• a transmission coupling the MR fluid actuator unit to the wearable device for converting torque from the MR fluid actuator unit to relative movement of the body interfaces with respect to one another wherein the first body interface is a shank body interface adapted to be secured to a shank of a user.