1,769 research outputs found

    A formal methodology for avoiding hyperstaticity when connecting an exoskeleton to a human member

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    International audienceThe design of a robotic exoskeleton often focuses on replicating the kinematics of the human limb that it is connected to. However, human joint kinematics is so complex that in practice, the kinematics of artificial exoskeletons fails to reproduce it exactly. This discrepancy results in hyperstaticity. Namely, uncontrolled interaction forces appear. In this paper, we investigate the problem of connecting an exoskeleton to a human member while avoiding hyperstaticity; to do so, we propose to add passive mechanisms at each connection point. We thus introduces a formal methodology for avoiding hyperstaticity when connecting wearable robotic structures to the human body. First, analyzing the twist spaces generated by these fixation passive mechanisms, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a given global isostaticity condition to be respected. Then, we derive conditions on the number of Degrees of Freedom (DoFs) to be freed at the different fixations, under full kinematic rank assumption. We finally apply the general methodology to the particular case of a 4 DoF shoulder-elbow exoskeleton. Experimental results allow to show an improvement in transparency brought by the passive mechanism fixations

    A Computational Approach for Human-like Motion Generation in Upper Limb Exoskeletons Supporting Scapulohumeral Rhythms

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    This paper proposes a computational approach for generation of reference path for upper-limb exoskeletons considering the scapulohumeral rhythms of the shoulder. The proposed method can be used in upper-limb exoskeletons with 3 Degrees of Freedom (DoF) in shoulder and 1 DoF in elbow, which are capable of supporting shoulder girdle. The developed computational method is based on Central Nervous System (CNS) governing rules. Existing computational reference generation methods are based on the assumption of fixed shoulder center during motions. This assumption can be considered valid for reaching movements with limited range of motion (RoM). However, most upper limb motions such as Activities of Daily Living (ADL) include large scale inward and outward reaching motions, during which the center of shoulder joint moves significantly. The proposed method generates the reference motion based on a simple model of human arm and a transformation can be used to map the developed motion for other exoskeleton with different kinematics. Comparison of the model outputs with experimental results of healthy subjects performing ADL, show that the proposed model is able to reproduce human-like motions.Comment: In 2017 IEEE International Symposium on Wearable & Rehabilitation Robotics (WeRob2017

    Design and Development of a Bilateral Therapeutic Hand Device for Stroke Rehabilitation

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    The major cause of disability is stroke. It is the second highest cause of death after coronary heart disease in Australia. In this paper, a post stroke therapeutic device has been designed and developed for hand motor function rehabilitation that a str

    Design and Evaluation of the LOPES Exoskeleton Robot for Interactive Gait Rehabilitation

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    This paper introduces a newly developed gait rehabilitation device. The device, called LOPES, combines a freely translatable and 2-D-actuated pelvis segment with a leg exoskeleton containing three actuated rotational joints: two at the hip and one at the knee. The joints are impedance controlled to allow bidirectional mechanical interaction between the robot and the training subject. Evaluation measurements show that the device allows both a "pa- tient-in-charge" and "robot-in-charge" mode, in which the robot is controlled either to follow or to guide a patient, respectively. Electromyography (EMG) measurements (one subject) on eight important leg muscles, show that free walking in the device strongly resembles free treadmill walking; an indication that the device can offer task-specific gait training. The possibilities and limitations to using the device as gait measurement tool are also shown at the moment position measurements are not accurate enough for inverse-dynamical gait analysis

    Design and simulation analysis of an improved wearable power knee exoskeleton

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    The wearable lower limb power robotic exoskeleton is a device that can improve the human walking ability. In this paper, an improved exoskeleton device for knee joint is designed, including the improvement of mechanical structure and hydraulic cylinder. In order to verify the effectiveness of the improvement of the hydraulic cylinder, we have carried out the following studies. Firstly, in terms of mechanical structure, length adjusting device is added to meet the needs of different people. At the same time, a limit device is added to the knee joint to improve the safety performance and comfort. Secondly, the dynamics of the model is carried out by Lagrange, and the exoskeleton model is established for ADAMS motion simulation. The force of ADAMS simulation, the calculated by Lagrange equation and the force of the first edition of hydraulic cylinder are compared, and the force selection of hydraulic cylinder is analyzed. By comparison with the first edition, the optimization rate of the improved hydraulic cylinder reaches 8 %. Finally, in order to verify the rationality of ADAMS simulation and the effectiveness of hydraulic cylinder improvement, the wear test is carried out, the average errors of leg centroid in normal walking, wearing exoskeleton walking and ADAMS simulation data are compared. The average error rate is less than 10 %. The results show that the simulation model design is reasonable, and the effectiveness of the hydraulic cylinder improvement is verified. The exoskeleton device designed can well follow the human motion. The simulation analysis of the exoskeleton provides important parameters for the manufacture and it also provides theoretical basis for the later control theory

    Design of a wearable upper limb rehabilitation robot and its motion simulation and dynamics analysis

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    Objective: A new wearable upper limb rehabilitation robot is designed to address the disadvantages of the current desktop upper limb rehabilitation robot, which is bulky and inconvenient to move, and the rationality of the design is verified through the analysis of its motion characteristics and the calculation of joint moments. Methods: Firstly, according to the principle of modular design, the overall structure was designed. Secondly, the SOILDWORKS is used for three-dimensional modeling, and the SOILDWORKS Motion is used to simulate the elbow flexion/extension movement, shoulder flexion/extension movement and shoulder-elbow joint linkage movement of the robot. Finally, the dynamic equation of the system is established based on Lagrange method, and the change curve of the joint torque of the manipulator is calculated by MATLAB software. Results: The simulation results confirmed that the motion simulation curves of shoulder joint, elbow joint and wrist joint were smooth. The dynamic analysis confirmed that the joint torque variation curve was smooth and the maximum joint torque was less than the rated torque of the motor after deceleration. Conclusion: The design of wearable upper limb rehabilitation robot is reasonable, which lays a theoretical foundation for the subsequent research on upper limb rehabilitation robot
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