• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.936-942
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• 2005

Recently the exoskeletal power assistive equipment which is a kind of wearable robot has been widely developed to help the human body motion. For the elderly people and patients, however, some limits exist due to the weight and volume of the equipments. As a feasible solution, a tendon-driven exoskeletal power assistive device fur the lower body, and caster walker are proposed in this research. Since the caster walker carries the heavy items, the weight and volume of the wearable exoskeleton are minimized. The key control is used to generate the joint torque required to assist motions such as sitting, standing and walking. Experiments were performed for several motions and the EMG sensors were used to measure the magnitude of assistance. When the motion of sitting down and standing up was compared with and without wearing the proposed device, the $25\%$ assistance was acquired.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.579-585
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• 2010

In this paper, an assistive device for a knee joint to help a disabled person to stand up by supporting power is presented. The device is designed and controlled by using damping characteristics of the MR (Magneto-Rheological) damper. The MR damper helps the person to sit slowly and safely. A DC motor supports muscle power in the case of standing motion. Thus the device helps the disabled person to sit down and stand up. Through the experiments, it is feasible that an assistive device can help the disabled person to standup according to the foot pressure change.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.32.2-32
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• 2001

We have developed the power assistive leg called HAL (Hybrid Assistive Leg) which provide the walking aid for walking disorder persons or aged persons without nursing person. We developed HAL-3 by considering some problems of HAL-1,2 which had developed previously. The mechanism of HAL-3 actuator could be simplified and sophisticated by using the harmonic drive. As the control signal of HAL-3 EMG signal was used. We proposed a calibration method to identify parameters which relates the EMG to joint torque by using HAL-3. We could obtain suitable torque estimated by EMG and realize power assist in walking according to the intention of the operator To the remove discomfort for quick motion power assist, the feedforward controller was installed at the beginning of motion ...

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

This paper reviews trends of the rehabilitation welfare devices on the basis of products and markets. Latest assistive devices tend to have a fold function. Auxiliary power assist module has been added. The completion of products has been improved. The folding function has strong relationship with portability. Specifically, various mobility devices, including foldable devices, are associated with enhanced portability. Powered auxiliary wheels and upper extremity supporting modules have entered the market. The leading-edge technology like Segway's control technology applies to two-wheel wheelchairs. The brand- new technology, lower extremity robotic exoskeleton, applies to markets. Standing wheelchairs, ramps, stair climbing assistive devices becomes more common. In addition, a combination of a variety of smart devices is being promoted to the classical assistive devices' part. Rehabilitation welfare devices can be more valuable due to nice industrial design, improved materials, and processing technology.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.538-546
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• 2015

This paper describes an intelligent ankle assistive robot which provides assistive power to reduce ankle torque based on an analysis of ankle motion and muscle patterns during walking on level and sloped floors. The developed robot can assist ankle muscle power by driving an electric geared motor at the exact timing through the use of an accelerometer that detects gait phase and period, and a potentiometer to measure floor slope angle. A simple muscle assistive link mechanism is proposed to convert the motor torque into the foot assistive force. In particular, this mechanism doesn't restrain the wearer's ankle joint; hence, there is no danger of injury if the motor malfunctions. During walking, the link mechanism pushes down the top of the foot to assist the ankle torque, and it can also lift the foot by inversely driving the linkage, so this robot is useful for foot drop patients. The developed robot and control algorithm are experimentally verified through walking experiments and EMG (Electromyography) measurements.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.49-50
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• 2010

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2011

In this paper, we proposed a design of upper-limb rehabilitation device with power-assist function for stroke survivals. The designed upper-limb rehabilitation device has three degrees of freedom； it is possible to perform flexion and extension motions of wrist, index finger and the other fingers except the thumb independently. The power-assist for wrist motion is performed by a pneumatic double-acting cylinder, but the fingers are actuated by electrical linear actuators to assist motions. A prototype upper-limb rehabilitation device and its controller were implemented. The position controller showed 0.8 mm errors in the steady-state. Experimental results showed that the proposed upper-limb rehabilitation device with power-assist function is feasible.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.1307-1308
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• 2012

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.46.1-46
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• 2001

This paper describes a control method of hybrid power assistive system for lower body, HAL, with the techniques of Phase Sequence and the application of EMG. Our objective is to attain the power assist control of motion in the lower body effectively with these two methods. The Phase Sequence which performs basic motion controls of HAL is the method that a motion, the Task, is accomplished by dividing each motion into the unit named Phase and ...

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.43-44
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• 2009