• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.294-301
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• 2010

In order to produce a convenient robot for the aged and the lower limb disabled, it is needed for the research detecting implicit walking intention and controlling robot by a user's intention. In this study, we developed sensor module system to control the walking- assist robot using FSR sensor and tilt sensor, and analyzed the signals being acquired from two sensors. The sensor module system consisted of the assist device control unit, communication unit by wire/wireless, information collection unit, information operation unit, and information processing PC which handles integrated processing of assist device control. The FSR sensors attached user's the palm and the soles of foot are sensing force/pressure signals from these areas and are used for detecting the walking intention and states. The tilt sensor acquires roll and pitch signal from area of vertebrae lumbales and reflects the pose of the upper limb. We could recognize the more detailed user's walking intention such as 'start walking', 'start of right or left foot forward', and 'stop walking' by the combination of FSR and tilt signals can recognize.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.1495-1499
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• 2003

There is some equipment that helps user to exercise and to walk. But almost all equipments require some physical strength of their muscles. So we developed a system that could assist walking action of the people with lower-limb disability. The system called as walking stand adopted the balancing mechanism which assures the stable walking, and the 4 link-based mechanism that had 2 degrees of freedom on each leg. The walking stand uses four motors and has two sets of the special link-structure to simulate the human walking mechanism. With our system, even serious disabled with lower-limb disability may enjoy walking rehabilitation. And by adjusting the power, it can be used as the walking assistant mechanism instead of conventional wheelchairs. Experiments showed that our walking stand is applicable to the rehabilitation and also to the mobile device in our daily life for those people who do not have enough physical ability to walk by themselves.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.1638-1641
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• 2004

Many walking stands, and assisting tools have been developed for the people with low-limb disability to prevent diseases from bedridden state and to help them walk again. But many of those equipments require user to have some physical strength or balancing ability. In our last research, we developed walking assist system for the people with lower-limb disability. With the system, user can be assisted by actuators, and do not have to worry about falling down. The system adapted the unique closed links structure with four servomotors, three PICs as controller, and four limit switches as HMI (human man interface). We confirmed the adaptability of the system by the experiment. In this research, Muscle Stiffness Sensor was tested as the advanced HMI for walking assist system, and confirmed the adaptability by the experiment. As Muscle Stiffness Sensor can attain the muscle activity, user can interface with any device he want to control. Experimental result with Muscle Stiffness sonsor showed that user could easily control the walking assist system as his will, just by changing his muscle strength.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.1473-1474
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• 2011

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.26 no.6_3
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• pp.1315-1323
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• 2023

Rehabilitation assistive devices not only assist the rehabilitation therapy and daily life of the disabled and the elderly, but also assist the labor of their caregivers, so various functions are required to improve their quality of life. In this study, a design method considering its practicality is introduced for an active rehabilitation assistive device that can perform both standing and walking assistance by driving various actuators. For this purpose, the force required to assist standing was calculated using statics with the body segmentation method. Also, the overturning stability of the device was verified for various physical conditions and postures. The actuator in the active rehabilitation assistive device was operated by a patient using a graphical user interface in an embedded computer and a touch panel for easy usage. The detailed design was performed for implementation through the help of 3D-CAD and the finite element analysis, and a prototype was produced. Finally, it was proven that the design goal was satisfied by experimental validation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.435-436
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• 2013

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to develop the FSR sensor suit that controls walking assist device for paraplegic patients. The FSR sensor suit was to detect user's intent and patterns for walking by measuring pressure on the palm and the sole of user's foot. It consisted of four modules: sensing pressure from palm, changing modes and detecting pressure on the palm/at the wrist, sensing pressure from the soles of user's foot, and host module that transmit FSR data obtained from sensing modules to PC. Sensing modules were connected to sensing pads which detect analog signals obtained from the palm or the sole of foot. These collect signals from the target regions, convert analog signals into digital signals, and transmit the final signals to host module via zigbee modules. Finally, host modules transmit the signals to host PC via zigbee modules. The study findings showed that forces measured at the palm when using a stick reflected user's intent to walk and forces at the sole of the user's foot revealed signals detecting walking state.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.525-531
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• 2023

In Korea, which is entering a super-aged society, the number of elderly patients who have difficulty walking independently is expected to increase rapidly, and it is necessary to develop wheelchair products with various functions to improve the quality of life of people with walking disabilities. Recently, wheelchair power assist devices that provide propulsion power by being attached to a manual wheelchair has been developed and is entering the domestic and global markets. In this study, we compared and analyzed the process of obtaining medical device certification for wheelchair power assist devices in Korea, the United States, and Europe. In Korea, a Class 2 medical device certification process was developed in 2021, and in the US FDA, it corresponds to Class 2 like the existing electric wheelchair and must pass the 510k certification process. In the case of Europe, it is uniquely regulated as Class I, and the CE mark can be attached through a relatively easy self-declaration of conformity. The Korean medical device industry, which is struggling with MDR certification, a new European medical device regulation, should pay attention to the relatively easy entry into the global market for wheelchair power assist products.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2016

In accordance to rapid aging of population, the accidents of elderly pedestrian and pedestrian safety are becoming very important issues. In terms of smartphone technologies, older people are increasingly looking for useful and friendly ICT services that which can add a value on their silver life. This paper introduced a new IT-based service for elderly walking assist using a smart-phone accompanied by a wearable watch. We describe the functional requirements and a systems architecture model with an interface between a smart-phone and wearable watch. Moreover, this study attempted to verify what services are needed and to estimate elderly pedestrians' WTP (willingness to pay) for IT-based walking assistance device. A total of 189 elderly pedestrians were randomly surveyed through face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire consisted of 3 categories: (1) questions pertaining to socio-economic status, (2) 12 questions regarding walking attitudes, and (3) a question to measure WTP. With this gathered data, factor analysis and path model estimating were conducted. The results identified the elderly user requirements and the use-value of new innovative products for IT-based walking assistance services by two groups(latent elderly and elderly). The modeling result shows that elderly's service preference would increase the possibilities for the commercialization of IT-based walking device with improving their walking safety.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.591-597
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• 2022

Objective: The sitting and standing are motions that correspond to the previous stage of rehabilitation to go to walking for daily life. The purpose of this study was to measure task times, path length of the center of pressure (COP) and activity on the vastus femoris muscle using surface electromyography (EMG) when standing up and sitting down. Design: One group cross-sectional design Methods: Fifteen elderly subjects (8 male, 7 female) participated. All subjects were tested three times according to four assist levels (non-assist, lower, middle, and maximal assist) using adjusts the length of spring at sit-to-stand and stand to sit on a chair. The task duration, and COP path length were recorded for the balance function on the Nintendo Wii fit board. The activity of the rectus femoris muscle was recorded on both legs using surface EMG. Results: The results showed that the task duration of the sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit were significantly increased compared to without assist (p<.05). The activation of the rectus femoris muscle more significantly decreased compared to without assistance at standing or sitting (p<.05). Conclusions: The assistive chair showed less quadriceps muscle activation during sitting and standing compared to without assistance. We suggest that our assist-standing chair can help with activities of daily living such as standing up and sitting down movements adjusting the spring length for control assist level by safely.