• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.249-258
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the different patterns of the lower limb between elderly and adult females to reduce the rate of falls. Ten old females(age: $73.1{\pm}2.69yrs$, height: $151.9{\pm}4.82cm$, mass: $57.36{\pm}5.36$) and ten adult females(age: $28\pm}4.76$ yrs, height: $160.6{\pm}6.83cm$, mass: $53.9{\pm}8.44$) were participated in this experiment. The gait motions were captured with Qualisys system and variables were calculated with Visual-3D. The following results were found. The elderly female group showed bigger inclination angle between COM and COP than the adult female group so that the dynamic stability was reduced in walking for the compensation with a bigger stride width. The elderly female group ensure for the necessary forward movement of COM in order to replace the decreased function of ankle and knee joint. If the distance between COM and COP is closer and the energy reduction of a specific joint is reduced, they could prevent the elderly female's falling rate by strengthening of muscles which were related the extension of ankle joint.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.603-609
• /
• 2010

This paper introduces an objects recognition algorithm based on SURF(Speeded Up Robust Features) and GP(Genetic Programming) based gaits generation. Combining both methods, a recognition based intelligent walking for quadruped robots is proposed. The gait of quadruped robots is generated by means of symbolic regression for each joint trajectories using GP. A position and size of target object are recognized by SURF which enables high speed feature extraction, and then the distance to the object is calculated. Experiments for objects recognition and autonomous walking for quadruped robots are executed for ODE based Webots simulation and real robot.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.278-284
• /
• 2010

Indoor localization for pedestrian is the key technology for caring the elderly, the visually impaired and the handicapped in health care districts. It also becomes essential for the emergency responders where the GPS signal is not available. This paper presents newly developed pedestrian localization system using the gyro sensors, the magnetic compass and pressure sensors. Instead of using the accelerometer, the pedestrian gait is estimated from the gyro sensor measurements and the travel distance is estimated based on the gait kinematics. Fusing the gyro information and the magnetic compass information for heading angle estimation is presented with the error covariance analysis. A pressure sensor is used to identify the floor the pedestrian is walking on. A complete ambulatory system is implemented which estimates the pedestrian's 3D position and the heading.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.139-147
• /
• 2009

When the visually impaired walks inside a building like corridor, a GPS cannot be useful for the walker in estimating his or her position unlike the case of outdoor space. This paper presents two novel methods to measure the walking distance using a low cost camera worn on the chest of the visually impaired. In the first method we analyze the periodic variation of image focusing values. Walking steps are counted by checking the period for the rough measure of the walking distance. The second method counts the step number by monitoring fixtures on the ceiling, which have a certain interval. Lamps on the ceiling appeared on the video are monitored in this paper. The T-S fuzzy theory is used to detect lamps, and the walking steps are estimated by the positional variation of the lamp due to the gait of the walker. The two methods are tested in real experiment, and the results are compared.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.217-224
• /
• 2010

Research has been conducted to examine the effects of mechanical and sound characteristics of fabrics on affective quality. The present study developed the Affective Quality Evaluation and Estimation System for Textiles (AQEEST) with distinguished features that can be effectively used in the affective research of fabric frictional sound. The AQEEST consists of three subsystems (affective quality evaluation, affective quality estimation, and audible distance estimation subsystems) and each subsystem consists of three to four modules (e.g., evaluation condition setup, evaluation experimentation, and textile database management modules) depending on its functional requirements. The affective quality evaluation subsystem was designed to help administer an experiment in a systematic manner and present acoustic and visual stimuli simultaneously in various gait conditions (walking, jogging, and running) to mimic a more realistic situation of textile frictional sound production. Next, the affective quality estimation subsystem was designed to estimate the sound characteristics, affective qualities, overall psychological satisfaction, and reference cluster of a textile using its mechanical and/or sound characteristic information. Lastly, the audible distance estimation subsystem was designed to estimate the just noticeable sound pressure levels and audible distances of a textile for various gait conditions using its mechanical characteristic information. The AQEEST can be upgraded by accommodating more affective quality study results for various textiles.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.97-107
• /
• 2009

In image-based gait recognition systems, physical factors, such as the camera angle and the lens distortion, and environmental factors such as illumination determines the performance of recognition. In this paper we present a robust gait recognition method by compensating various types of image distortions. The proposed method is compared with existing gait recognition algorithm with consideration of both physical and environmental distortion factors in the input image. More specifically, we first present an efficient compensation algorithm of image distortion by using the projective transform, and test the feasibility of the proposed algorithm by comparing the recognition performances with and without the compensation process. Proposed method gives universal gait data which is invariant to both distance and environment. Gained data improved gait recognition rate about 41.5% in indoor image and about 55.5% in outdoor image. Proposed method can be used effectively in database(DB) construction, searching and tracking of specific objects.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.41 no.10
• /
• pp.991-996
• /
• 2017

Gait stability is partly characterized by an extended stance phase that comprises 60 of the gait ％ cycle. In this study, a gait pattern was employed for a crank drive system that allows for stable lower limb kinematics during stand-up cycling. A quick return mechanism was applied to the crank system to allow for a slow rotation of the crank during the stance phase and for a quick return during the swing phase. Design parameters for the quick return crank mechanism were defined, and kinematic simulations were performed to understand the behavior of the mechanism. To evaluate the design, an experimental instrument was fabricated, and the cycling motion was analyzed. The results indicated that this new drive system can stabilize the center of mass of the user. This study can contribute to the development of a stand-up bicycle that allows for more comfortable leg kinematics.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.35-44
• /
• 2020

Background: This study was to confirm the effect and feasibility of knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO) on balance and gait in subacute stroke patients. Design: Case study. Methods: The subjects of the study were 4 subacute stroke patients, who had an onset period of less than 6 months. The limit of stability (LOS) and berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG) were used to verify the dynamic balance ability, static balance ability, and gait ability pre and post and after wearing the knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO). In addition, the satisfaction survey was to confirm the feasibility of the knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO) through the to Korean quebec user evaluation of satisfaction assistive technology 2.0 (K-QUEST 2.0). Results: After the wearing on KEAO, the distance for the limit of stability decreased by mean 541.25±240.46 mm2, and the score on the berg balance scale improved by mean 5±2.71 point, and the time for the timed up and go test deceased by mean 3.75±1.71 second. The stability and durability were found to be full score, and the control, ease, effectiveness were some high score, and the size, weight, comfort were some low score in the satisfaction and feasibility. Conclusion: The knee extension assist orthosis (KEAO) produce in this study was improved the static balance ability, dynamic balance ability and gait ability of subacute stroke patients, and the satisfaction and feasibility were high in the stability, durability and effectiveness of the user.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.57-65
• /
• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of balance training on different support surface (affected and non-affected sides) on the balance and gait function of chronic stroke patients. METHODS: The patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups. Group 1 received balance training on the stable surface, group 2 received balance training on the unstable surface, group 3 received balance training on different support surface (affected side: stable surface, non-affected side: unstable surface), and group 4 received balance training on different support surface (affected side: unstable, non-affected side: stable). Twelve sessions (30 min/d, 3 times/wk for 4 wk) were applied. There were assessed before and after the intervention with Balancia, functional reach test (FRT), lateral reach test (LRT), timed up-and-go (TUG), and 10-meter walking test (10MWT). RESULTS: After the training, all of the groups improved significantly than before training in Balancia, FRT, LRT, TUG, and 10MWT. There were significantly variable in sway distance, FRT, LRT, TUG, and 10MWT among the 4 groups. Post hoc analysis revealed that the group 3 had significantly higher results than other 3 groups in sway distance, and FRT, LRT, TUG, and 10MWT. CONCLUSION: Balance training on different support surface (affected side: stable surface, non-affected side: unstable surface) could facilitate a stronger beneficial effect on balance and walking ability than other balance trainings on different support surface in patients with stroke.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.368-374
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was investigate the effect of rehabilitation exercise using a home video game(PS2, Sony) on gait ability in the chronic stroke patients. The subjects of this study were 32 patients who underwent stroke for more than 6 months and were assigned to a game-based exercise group (n=16) or a control group (n=16). The Game-based exercise group executed a rehabilitation exercise three times a week during 6 weeks, at the rehabilitation unit. The exercise was performed by PS2 for one hour. Control group maintained their usual life without application of exercise. Outcome measures included gait ability. After the completion of the game-based exercise, 10m walking velocity was improved significantly (p<0.05). Six minute walking distance was increased significantly (p<0.05). These results showed that the rehabilitation exercise using a home video game is effective in the improvement of gait ability in chronic stroke patients. This study suggest that interesting, motivating game-based rehabilitation exercise and effective in recovery of function exercise for chronic stroke patients should be necessary to develop and apply.