• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2013

The exoskeleton robot to assist walking of hemiplegia patients or disabled persons has been studied in this paper. The exoskeleton robot with degrees of freedom of 2 axis has been developed and tested for joint motion. The obtained EMG signal from normal person was analyzed and the control signal was extracted from it for convenient and automotive performance of assistance robot to help hemiplegia patient walks as normal person does. the purpose of using FES(Functional Electrical Stimulation) for hemiplegia patient's walk is to restore damaged body function by this, but this could give fatal electrical shock to patients by wrong use or cause quick fatigue in muscle by continuous stimulation. The convenient movement of hemiplegia patients with minimum muscle fatigue was looked possibly by operation of assistance robot exoskeleton using control signal. and the walking assistance exoskeleton robot seemed works more efficiently than using FES stimulator. The experiment in this study was performed based on usual motion in our life like walking, standing-up, sitting-down, and particularly feedback control system using Piezo sensor along with button switch was applied for smooth swing motion in walking. The experiment also shows that hemiplegia patients can move conveniently by using electromyogram signal of healthy leg for the operation signal of assistance robot system attached at damaged symmetrical leg.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.521-528
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze the kinematic characteristics of the finalists in the women's 100 m event to provide important information to coaches and athletes. Three different biomechanics techniques were applied for analyzing sprinter motion: LAVEG, a panning technique, and 12 video cameras for 3 dimensional analysis of the 40 m - 70 m portion of the race. Carmelita Jeter(USA) performed the maximum speed of 10.54 m/s at the distance of 58.2 m. There was a tendency to show a better performance time with a high number of steps (p=.13) and shorter stride length (p=.14) among the 8 sprints. Furthermore, the stride frequency and the performance time were negatively correlated as a higher stride frequency had a positive impact on the performance time (p=.02). Based on 3 dimensional analysis, the 4 top ranked sprinters used the different strategies to maintain a high COM (Center of Mass) velocity during the mid portion of the race (40 m - 70 m). Carmelita Jeter(USA) showed more flexed knee and hip motion at heel contact (HC) to maintain a high COM velocity while S.A. Fraser-Pryce (JAM) showed more extended knee and hip motion at HC. On the other hands, Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) and Kelly-Ann Baptiste (TRI) showed a tendency to have high knee lifts during the swing phase to maintain the high COM velocity during the race. These biomechanical analyses of the women's 100 m final event in the 2011 WC, Daegu, will provide important scientific information to coaches and athletes for understanding the sprinting mechanism of today's top-class sprinters.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare the ring lock type knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) with newly developed 4-bar linkage KAFO on the gait characteristics of persons with poliomyelitis clinically. This 4-bar linkage is the stance control type KAFO which provide the stability during stance phase and knee flexion during swing phase. Two subjects participated in this study voluntarily. We provided the customized 4-bar linkage KAFO then asked the subjects to walk in level surface and stairs under the two different KAFO conditions. The characteristics of gait in the persons with poliomyelitis were evaluated using a 3D motion analysis system and force plate. Additionally 6 minute walk test for physiological cost index were conducted using pulse oximeter to measure the energy consumption. In the results of this study, the differences of 4-bar linkage KAFO compared with ring lock type KAFO are as follows: (1) Walking speed, stride length, and step length on level increased in subjects, (2) The gait symmetry was improved by generated knee flexion and decreased pelvic external rotation on level and stairs walking, (3) Decreased vertical excursion of center of mass and pelvic elevation during swing phase was decreased on level, (4) Knee extension moment, hip flexion moment, hip and knee internal rotation moment of non-braced limb were decreased on level walking, (5) Walking speed in 6-minute walk test was increased and physiological cost index was decreased. These findings indicate that 4-bar linkage KAFO compared with ring lock type KAFO is effective in enhancing pattern, endurance, and energy consumption in level surface and stairs walking.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.633-650
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate the kinematics of young adults during ascent ramp climbing at different inclinations. Twenty-three subjects ascended a four step at four different inclinations(level, $8^{\circ},\;16^{\circ},\;24^{\circ}$). The 3-D kinematics was analysed by a camera-based falcon system. Groups difference was tested with one -way ANOVA and SNK test. The different kinematic patterns of ramp ascent were analysed and compared to level walking patterns. The kinematics of ramp walking could be clearly distinguished from the kinematics of level walking. In sagittal plane, Ankle joint was more dorsiflexed at initial contact and Max. dorsiflex. during stance phase with $16^{\circ},\;24^{\circ}$ inclination and more plantarflexed at toe off and Max. plantarflex. during swing phase with $24^{\circ}$(p<.001). Knee joint was more flexed at initial contact with $16^{\circ},\;24^{\circ}$ inclination(p<.001). Hip joint was more flexed at initial contact and Max. flex. during swing phase with $16^{\circ},\;24^{\circ}$ inclination and at toe off with $24^{\circ}$(p<.001) and was more extended at Max. ext. during stance phase with $24^{\circ}$(p<.05). In frontal plane, ankle joint was more everted at Max. eversion. during stance phase with $16^{\circ},\;24^{\circ}$ inclination(p<.001). Knee joint was more increased at Max. varus. during stance phase with $16^{\circ},\;24^{\circ}$ inclination(p<.001). Hip joint was not differentiated with different inclinations. In horizontal plane, all joints were not differentiated with different inclinations. Conclusionally, In ascent ramp walking, the different gait pattern generally occurred at over $16^{\circ}$ on the ascending ramp in sagittal and frontal plane. These results suggest that there is a certain inclination angle or angular range where subjects do switch between a level walking and a ascent ramp walking gait pattern. This shows their motor control strategy between level and ascent ramp walking. Further studies are necessary to confirm and detect the ascent ramp gait patterns.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1193-1199
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• 2012

A cup burner experiment was performed to investigate the effect of the oxidizer velocity and concentration on flame instability near extinction. Heptane was used as a fuel and air diluted by nitrogen and carbon dioxide was used in the oxidizer stream. Two types of flame instabilities at the flame base and at axial downstream were observed near extinction. The instability at the flame base could be characterized by cell, swing, and rotation modes, and the cell mode changed to the rotation mode through the swing mode as the oxidizer velocity increased. To assess the parameters for the flame instability, the initial mixture strengths, Lewis number, and adiabatic flame temperature were investigated under each condition. The Lewis number might be the most important among them, but it is impossible to generalize because of the insufficient number of cases. Furthermore, the axial periodic flickering motion disappeared at low and high oxidizer velocities near extinction. This resulted from the fact that low oxidizer velocity induced evaporated fuel velocity below the critical velocity and high velocity made the reacting fuel velocity comparable.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2013

This study examined 24 right-handed amateur baseball players. Twelve who had played baseball for more than 6 years were grouped as skilled players, while 12 who had played for 1-3 years were the unskilled player group. The swing motion was divided into four event phases: stance, backswing, impact, and follow-through. The mean and maximum plantar pressure, center of pressure, and ground reaction force were measured during each event phase. The mean and standard deviations for each variables were calculated and differences were validated with the independent sample t-test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results were as follows. 1)The ideal stance is a stable, balanced position with more than 65% of weight on the right foot. There was significant difference in mean left plantar pressure, while the maximal plantar pressure and mean right plantar pressure did not differ significant. 2)The effective backswing of a skilled player is comprised a rightward shift in weight to build maximum energy. More than 90% of the weight was on the right foot. There was a significant difference in the mean left plantar pressure, while the maximal plantar pressure and mean right plantar pressure did not differ significantly. 3) For an effective impact, a rapid shift in weight to the left foot is essential, so that a power hit is obtained. Significant difference in the mean and maximum plantar pressures of both feet were observed. 4)Follow-through requires wight balance, more on the right than the left, without leaning leftward. There was no significant difference in the mean or maximum plantar pressure. 5)The center of plantar pressure should move from the center of the foot to the toe. 6)The analyses of the ground reaction force suggest that a good swing involves a gradual shift in weight to the right side and a rapid leftward shift at impact. Good balance, with the center of gravity on the right side at follow-through, is also required.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate Influence on intra-limb coordination in individuals wearing knee brace during walking. Seven healthy male adults ($32.3{\pm}2.7$ years old, $175.2{\pm}3.8cm$, $76.2{\pm}8.7kg$) participated. They wore knee brace or didn't wear any knee brace and were asked to walk along a 10 m long walkway. Spatiotemporal parameters, angles of the lower limbs, and intra-limb continuous relative phase (CRP) were measured and calculated. No differences of spatiotemporal parameters were shown (all p > 0.05). There were no changes in the angle and its range of motion (ROM) in the hip for the subjects as wearing knee brace, while ROM ($65.5{\pm}3.7^{\circ}$ vs. $60.5{\pm}3.5^{\circ}$, p < 0.05) of the angle and maximum flexion angles (stance: $31.9{\pm}4.6$ vs. $25.6{\pm}5.5$, swing: $76.7{\pm}3.1$ vs. $68.9{\pm}3.4$, all p < 0.05) in the knee significantly decreased. No changes in ROM of angle in the ankle were shown, whereas maximum dorsiflexion decreased ($22.4{\pm}2.6$ vs. $19.2{\pm}2.1$, p < 0.05) and maximum plantarflexion increased ($9.5{\pm}3.0$ vs. $15.7{\pm}2.2$, p<0.05). There were no changes in most of CRP between joints. CRP between the hip and knee joints decreased ($93.0{\pm}7.8$ vs, $84.7{\pm}4.9$, p < 0.05). Most of CRP standard deviation increased (between the hip and ankle joint during swing: $25.1{\pm}6.7$ vs. $32.4{\pm}1.9$, between the knee and ankle joint during stance: $46.0{\pm}12.9$ vs. $80.1{\pm}31.1$, between the knee and ankle joint during swing: $34.5{\pm}4.1$ vs. $37.6{\pm}3.1$, all p < 0.05). These results indicated that wearing knee brace affected joint angle and intra-limb coordination, but less affected gait features.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.31 no.3 s.119
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• pp.247-252
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• 2007

The container crane is one of the most important equipments at container terminal. If its working time in cycle could be reduced then container terminal efficiency and service level can be increased. So there are many i1forts to reduce working time of container cranes. It means how to design the controller with good performance which has small overshoot and swing motion of container crane. We, in this paper, present a state feedback controller based on LQ theory incorporating a RCGA which means real-coded genetic algorithm RCGA can search state feedback gains under given objective function. A set of simulation works are carried out in order to prove the control effectiveness of the proposed methods.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.17-35
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to explain developmental process of gait via angle-angle diagram to understand how coordinated relationships and control change with age. Twenty four female children, from one to five years of age were the test subjects for this study, and their results were compared to a control group consisting of twenty one adult females. The Vicon 370 CCD camera, VCR, video timer, monitor, and audio visual mixer was utilized to graph the gait cycle for all test subjects. Both coordinated Intra-limb relationships, and range of motion and timing according to quadrant were explained through the angle angle diagram. Movement in the sagittal plane showed both coordinated relationships and control earlier than movement in the coronal or transverse plane. In the sagittal plane, hip and Knee coordinated relationships developed first (from one year of age.) Coordinated relationships in the Knee and ankle and hip and ankle developed next, respectively. Both hip and ankle and knee and ankle development were inhibited by the inability of children to completely perform plantar flexion during the swing and initial double limb support phases. Children appeared to compensate for this by extending at their hip joint more than adults during the third phase, final double limb support. In many cases the angle angle diagram for children had a similar shape as adult's angle angle diagram. This shows that children can coordinate their movements at an early age. However, the magnitudes and timing of children's angle angle diagrams still varied greatly from adults, even at five years of age. This indicates that even at this age, children still do not possess full control of their movements.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.421-427
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze the difference between male and female tennis players' two-handed backhand stroke and to provide basic data which helps precise and efficient instruction for the sake of precise postures, enhanced performances and skills. 5 male and 5 female university players were recruited as subjects, and the mean difference between the kinematic variables such as the time from backswing to impact and total swing time, racket head velocity, change of the center of body gravity in two-handed backhand stroke through three-dimensional motion analysis. The test data was analyzed by t-test, and the alpha level of ${\alpha}$=.05 was set for all tests of significance. The findings of the study were as follows; First, there was no difference in the time from backswing to impact and total time of