• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.751-758
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• 2016

The modifiable walking pattern generation (MWPG) algorithm can handle dynamic walking commands by changing the walking period, step length, and direction independently. When an infeasible command is given, the algorithm changes the command to a feasible one. After the feasibility of the navigational command is checked, it is translated into the desired center of mass (CM) state. To achieve the desired CM state, a reference CM trajectory is generated using predefined zero moment point (ZMP) functions. Based on the proposed algorithm, various complex walking patterns were generated, including backward and sideways walking. The effectiveness of the patterns was verified in dynamic simulations using the Webots simulator.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.344-351
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• 2014

In order to accomplish complex navigational commands, humanoid robot should be able to modify its walking period, step length and direction independently. In this paper, a novel walking pattern generation algorithm is proposed to satisfy these requirements. Modification of the walking pattern can be considered as a transition between two periodic walking patterns, which follows each navigational command. By assuming the robot as a linear inverted pendulum, the equations of motion between ZMP(Zero Moment Point) and CM(Center of Mass) state is easily derived and analyzed. After navigational command is translated into the desired CM state, corresponding CM motion is generated to achieve the desired state by using simple ZMP functions. Moreover, when the command is not feasible, feasible command is alternated by using binary search algorithm. Subsequently, corresponding CM motion is generated. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by computer simulation.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2011

This paper is concerned with locomotion of dog-like quadruped robots that can adapt to various terrains, mainly dealing with implementation methods and characteristics of static and dynamic gaits. To this end, a 12-DOF robot is built in house, motional trajectories of its body and feet are generated mimicking biological life, and the corresponding leg joint angles are analytically obtained by inverse kinematics. Such joint angle data are then applied to the robot's ADAMS model for computer simulations so that the planned walk and trot gaits are both confirmed dynamically stable. However, contrary to the simulation results, previous trot patterns showed unstable behavior during experiments. This problem led us to analyze the reason, and in the course we discovered the importance of maximally utilizing the concept of WSM rather than ZMP and therefore reducing the gait period to secure the stability of dynamic gaits such as trot.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate difference in fascicle behavior of the medial gastrocnemius during the locomotion with varying intensities, such as gait and one-legged and two-legged vertical jumping. Methods : Six subjects (3 males and 3 females; age: $27.2{\pm}1.6yrs.$, body mass: $62.8{\pm}9.8kg$, height: $169.6{\pm}8.5cm$) performed normal gait (G) at preferred speed and maximum vertical jumping with one (OJ) and two (TJ) legs. While subjects were performing the given tasks, the hip, knee and ankle joint motion and ground reaction force was monitored using a 8-infrared camera motion analysis system with two forceplates. Simultaneously, electromyography of the triceps surae muscles, and the fascicle length of the medial gastrocnemius were recorded using a real-time ultrasound imaging machine. Results : Comparing to gait, the kinematic and kinetic parameters of TJ and OJ were found to be significantly different. Along with those parameters, change in the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle-tendon complex (MTC) length ($50.57{\pm}6.20mm$ for TJ and $44.14{\pm}5.39mm$ for OJ) and changes in the fascicle length of the MG ($18.97{\pm}3.58mm$ for TJ and $20.31{\pm}4.59mm$ for OJ) were observed. Although the total excursion of the MTC and the MG fascicle length during the two types of jump were not significantly different, however the pattern of length changes were found to be different. For TJ, the fascicle length maintained isometric longer during the propulsive phase than OJ. Conclusion : One-legged and two-legged vertical jumping use different muscle-tendon interaction strategies.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.92-103
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• 2013

Humanoid robot is the most intimate robot platform suitable for human interaction and services. Biped walking is its basic locomotion method, which is performed with combination of joint actuator's rotations in the lower extremity. The present work employs humanoid robot simulator and numerical optimization method to generate optimal joint trajectories for biped walking. The simulator is developed with Matlab based on the robot structure constructed with the Denavit-Hartenberg (DH) convention. Particle swarm optimization method minimizes the cost function for biped walking associated with performance index such as altitude trajectory of clearance foot and stability index concerning zero moment point (ZMP) trajectory. In this paper, instead of checking whether ZMP's position is inside the stable region or not, reference ZMP trajectory is approximately configured with feature points by which piece-wise linear trajectory can be drawn, and difference of reference ZMP and actual one at each sampling time is added to the cost function. The optimized joint trajectories realize three phases of stable gait including initial, periodic, and final steps. For validation of the proposed approach, a small-sized humanoid robot named DARwIn-OP is commanded to walk with the optimized joint trajectories, and the walking result is successful.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2021

Objective: The objective of the present study was to analyze the relationship between strength of the lower extremity's joints and their local dynamic stability (LDS) of gait in elderly women. Method: Forty-five elderly women participated in this study. Average age, height, mass, and preference walking speed were 73.5±3.7 years, 153.8±4.8 cm, 56.7±6.4 kg, and 1.2±0.1 m/s, respectively. They were tested torque peak of the knee and ankle joints with a Human Norm and while they were walking on a treadmill at their preference speed for a long while, kinematic data were obtained using six 3-D motion capture cameras. LDS of the lower extremity's joints were calculated in maximum Lyapunov Exponent (LyE). Correlation coefficients between torque of the joints and LyE were obtained using Spearman rank. Level of significance was set at p<.05. Results: Knee flexion torque and its LDS was negatively associated with adduction-abduction and flexion-extension movement (p<.05). In addition, ratio of the knee flexion torque to extension and LDS was negatively related to internal-external rotation. Conclusion: In conclusion, knee flexion strength should preferentially be strengthened to increase LDS of the lower extremity's joints for preventing from small perturbations during walking in elderly women.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.459-468
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• 2001

The Average Coordinate Referenee System (ACRS) method is developed to reduce experimental errors in human locomotion analysis. Experimentally measured kinematic data is used to conduct analysis in human modeling, and the model accuracy is directly related to the accuracy of the data. However. the accuracy is questionable due to skin movement. deformation of skeletal structure while in motion and limitations of commercial motion analysis system . In this study. the ACRS method is applied to an optically-tracked segment marker system. although it can be applied to many of the others as well. In the ACRS method, each marker can be treated independently. as the origin of a local coordinate system for its body segment. Errors, inherent in the experimental process. result in different values for the recovered Euler angles at each origin. By employing knowledge of an initial, calibrated segment reference frame, the Euler angles at each marker location can be averaged. minimizing the effect of the skin extension and rotation. Using the developed ACRS methodology the error is reduced when compared to the general Euler angle method commonly applied in motion analysis. If there is no error exist in the experimental gait data. the separation and Penetration distance of the femoraltibial joint using absolute coordinate system is supposed to be zero during one gait cycle. The separation and Penetration distance was ranged up to 18 mm using general Euler angle method and 12 mm using the developed ACRS.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to develop a portable and convenient closed-loop contrel type electrical stimulator for patients with foot drop. This system restores walking movement as well as prevents from atrophy or necrosis of lower limb muscles and increases blood circulation in hemiplegic patients caused by traffic accident, industrial disaster or stoke. This system detects the changes of the ankle joint angle during walking, and then controls the stimulus intensity automatically to maintain the programmed level of the ankle joint angle. Also, this automatic system controls the stimulus intensity which is affected by increased electrode impedance resulting from long time use. The system detects the joint angle by an optical sensor and includes modified PID control which adjusts the stimulus intensity if the joint angle deviates from the preset value. Stimulus parameters are 30~80 volt, 40 Hz, and 0.2 ms. The system was applied to five hemiplegic patients for 42 days. Duration of stimulation was 15 min/day for the first week and then the duration was gradually increased to 30, 60, 90 and 120 min/day. The muscle force was increased up to 29.7%, muscle fatigue was decreased compared with the level before stimulation and the pattern of locomotion was improved. These results suggest that the electrical stimulator with closed-loop control type is more convenient and effective in restoration of locomotion of patients with foot drop than open-loop system.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2010

Ultrasonographic diagnosis and treatment in Orthopaedic fields had been widely used. Sonographic diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle is convenient because of anatomical characteristics. The knowledge of the anatomy and biomechanics in foot and ankle area can help to diagnose and treat the disease around foot and ankle. 28 bone and many tendons, ligaments and muscles are consist of ankle and foot joint and the coordinative relation among these structures can allow the dual function, weight bearing and locomotion of ankle and foot during gait cycle. Foot and ankle have small room for many structures, so systemically physical examination is essential for diagnosis. Accurate understanding of foot and ankle anatomy and biomechanics could be helpful to using ultrasonograph.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.926-934
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• 2006

This paper proposes intelligent control of a virtual walking machine that can generate infinite floor for various surfaces and can provide proprioceptive feedback of walking to a user. This machine allows users to participate in a life-like walking experience in virtual environments with various terrains. The controller of the machine is implemented hierarchically, at low-level for robust actuator control, at mid-level fur platform control to compensate the external forces by foot contact, and at high-level control for generating walking trajectory. The high level controller is suggested to generate continuous walking on an infinite floor for various terrains. For the high level control, each independent platform follows a man foot during the swing phase, while the other platform moves back during single stance phase. During double limb support, two platforms manipulate neutral positions to compensate the offset errors generated by velocity changes. This control can, therefore, satisfy natural walking conditions in any direction. Transition phase between the swing and the stance phases is detected by using simple switch sensor system, while human foot motions are sensed by careful calibration with a magnetic motion tracker attached to the shoe. Experimental results of walking simulations at level ground, slope, and stairs, show that with the proposed machine, a general person can walk naturally on various terrains with safety and without any considerable disturbances. This interface can be applied to various areas such as VR navigations, rehabilitation, and gait analysis.