Intelligent assist devices (IADs) provide power assistance and motion guidance. Relying on force feedback, IADs respond quickly and smoothly to an operator's touch, amplifying his arm and finger movements. The operator senses little or no time lapse between his actions and the system's responses.

"IADs use sophisticated control algorithms to coordinate system responses with the human's intentions and assist requirements," says Stephen Klostermeyer, director of sales and marketing at Cobotics Inc. (Evanston, IL). "Servo drives provide a faster, more accurate level of performance not possible with traditional pneumatic or hydraulic lift-assist systems."