HIP-KNEE control for gait assistance with Powered Knee Orthosis

A Powered Knee Orthosis (PKO) was developed for the elderly and patients with disordered gait to regain normal walking. In order to enhance the PKO performance and reduce system complexity especially for people with muscle weakness in their knee joints, an algorithm named HIP-KNEE control is proposed. This algorithm is based on the analysis of kinematic gait model, and the desired knee joint angle (KNEE) is estimated from the measurements of hip joint angle (HIP). The relationship between HIP and KNEE is modeled as a polynomial, which can be easily implemented to an embedded controller for real-time control. This control method is suitable to subjects with good function in hip joint, and it can provide help in walking without special training. An Inertia Measurement Units (IMU) is used for obtaining HIP input, and integrated with a footswitch for checking the heel condition; the gait assistance performance can be further improved

HIP-KNEE control for gait assistance with Powered Knee Orthosis

A Powered Knee Orthosis (PKO) was developed for the elderly and patients with disordered gait to regain normal walking. In order to enhance the PKO performance and reduce system complexity especially for people with muscle weakness in their knee joints, an algorithm named HIP-KNEE control is proposed. This algorithm is based on the analysis of kinematic gait model, and the desired knee joint angle (KNEE) is estimated from the measurements of hip joint angle (HIP). The relationship between HIP and KNEE is modeled as a polynomial, which can be easily implemented to an embedded controller for real-time control. This control method is suitable to subjects with good function in hip joint, and it can provide help in walking without special training. An Inertia Measurement Units (IMU) is used for obtaining HIP input, and integrated with a footswitch for checking the heel condition; the gait assistance performance can be further improved

Design and control of a powered knee orthosis for gait assistance

A powered knee orthosis named Assistive Knee Brace (AKB) is designed for the elderly and patients with knee dysfunctions to gain external support at their knee joints during gait. Safety, light-weight and user-friendly interface are the emphasis of system design. In the assistive controller design, gait analysis method based on Finite State Machine is developed for gait pattern estimation, with state estimated through fuzzy inference. Based on the gait pattern estimated online, reference gait pattern is generated as assistive control input of the powered knee orthosis to adjust the wearer's abnormal motion with torque support to track the normal pattern. To verify the assistive function of AKB, gait experiments under control are conducted on healthy subjects simulating certain limited mobility. Results show that with proper assistive torque from the AKB, wearers can perform motions in good patterns

Design and control of a powered knee orthosis for gait assistance

A powered knee orthosis named Assistive Knee Brace (AKB) is designed for the elderly and patients with knee dysfunctions to gain external support at their knee joints during gait. Safety, light-weight and user-friendly interface are the emphasis of system design. In the assistive controller design, gait analysis method based on Finite State Machine is developed for gait pattern estimation, with state estimated through fuzzy inference. Based on the gait pattern estimated online, reference gait pattern is generated as assistive control input of the powered knee orthosis to adjust the wearer's abnormal motion with torque support to track the normal pattern. To verify the assistive function of AKB, gait experiments under control are conducted on healthy subjects simulating certain limited mobility. Results show that with proper assistive torque from the AKB, wearers can perform motions in good patterns