• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.626-633
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• 2009

A motion planning algorithm is presented in this paper for a commercialized quadruped walking of robot pet. Stable walking is the basic requirement for a commercial-purpose legged robot. In order to secure the walking stability, modified body sway to the centroid of support polygon is addressed. By representation of walking motion with respect to the world coordinate system rather than body coordinate, it is possible to design the several gaits in unified fashion. The initial gait posture is introduced to maximize the stride and to achieve fast walking. The proposed walking motion planning is verified through computer simulation and experiments.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.7 no.8
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• pp.675-679
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• 2001

This paper presents walking algorithm for a quadruped robot that does not have an upper body. Tilting motion is added to the planned walking trajectory instead of using an extra body segment that is independent on walking trajectory. Area and tracking algorithms are proposed as tilting method and compared with that of off-line tilting and that of no tilting. Computer simulation shows that stability of tilted walking is more improved than that of the usual walking algorithm for general walking paths. It also shows that the tracking method guarantees stability and best mobility.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

Background: The ability for backward walking is considered to be necessary for the neuromuscular control and maintenance of balance in daily ambulatory activity. This study aimed to determine the effect of backward walking training on the walking speed and balance control in patients with hemiplegia. Methods: Fourteen patients with hemiplegia were randomly allocated to an experimental and control groups of seven patients each. For the experimental group, we performed both conventional training and backward walking training, and conventional training only for the control group. The conventional training programs for the 2 groups were conducted for 30 min, twice a day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks, and backward walking training for the experimental group was conducted for 30 min, 3 times a week. The outcomes were assessed using the functional reach test (FRT), timed up-and-go (TUG) Test, and the 10 meter walk time test (10mWT). Result: A comparison of the FRT, TUG test, and 10mWT scores obtained before and after the 4-week treatment revealed statistically significant differences (p<.05) for the experimental group; however, there was no such difference in the case of the control group (p>.05). On assessment after the 4-week treatment, statistically significant differences were noted in the TUG test and 10mWT scores of the experimental group (p<.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that backward walking training is an effective clinical strategy for improving the walking speed and functional mobility of patients with hemiplegia.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of present study was to determine effects of a task-oriented circuit training(TOCT) for lower limb on walking ability after stroke. Methods : Twenty one chronic stroke patients participated. Participants were randomly divided into either TOCT group or control group(11 experimental, 10 control). All of participants were in-patients at local rehabilitation centre and had been receiving a traditional rehabilitation program, five days a week. TOCT group have additionally undergone for four weeks, three days a week, the TOCT program but control group was not received any additional program except the traditional rehabilitation program. The 10 m walking test (10MWT), the 2 min walking test (2MWT), the step test (ST) and the figure-8 walking test (F8WT) to measure a walking ability were carried out twice before and after training. Results : After participation in the program, subjects of TOCT demonstrated a significant improvement in the scores of the 10MWT, 2MWT, the ST, the F8WT. The control group had no change on the any tests. After the training, the results to improve significantly in TOCT group compared to post-test of control group were the time of 10MWT and the time and the step of curved walking of F8WT. Conclusion : The present study suggests that the TOCT program may become a useful strategy for enhancing walking ability in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2011

This paper aims to find the optimal control gain for enhancing the convenience of electric walking frames and design a control algorithm. With the recent advances in medical technology, there has been a rapid increase in the aging population and a variety of mobile walking frames have been developed for improvement of the quality of life. However, the manual walking frames of such mobile aids don't have any electric motor which helps facilitate elderly users' walking and thus are not efficient enough for the old people of weak strength to use especially when moving on uneven surfaces such as slopes or thresholds. The types of electric walking frames have been developed to overcome such inefficiency. Electric walking frames require users' control operations for motor driving unlike manual frames. Therefore, when they are not properly handled, it causes considerable inconvenience to their users. The present study compared the electric walking frames with manual ones in terms of operational convenience and attempted to improve the user convenience of walking frames varying the control value for user convenience based on certain standards. This paper presented a haptic sensor designed to recognize the will to walk and measure the degree of convenience and proposed a control algorithm for improvement of convenience. For user convenience, this paper evaluated the relative convenience of walking frames in view of changing differences between the center of vehicle (COV) and the center of position (COP). With the employment of an electric walking frame and a new measuring method, all the processes were experimentally tested and validated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1994.10a
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• pp.323-329
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• 1994

In the systems such as walking robots or high speed operating manipulators, the effect of nonlinear terms is important and can not be neglected. Therefore the application of linear control law to such systems is inadequate. Moreover, because of the mathematical modeling errors the systems may become unstable. In this study, we designed a nonlinear controller with sliding mode scheme, which is robust to the modeling errors and applied this control algorithm to the 5 DOF biped robot system. Throught the computer simulations, we examined walking characteris and walking stability of the 5 DOF biped robot system.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers A
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.1022-1030
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• 1999

This paper is concerned with the balancing motion formulation and the control of ZMP (zero moment point) for a biped walking robot with balancing joints. The balancing equation of a biped robot can be modeled as the second order non-homogeneous differential equation, which makes it possible to plan the desired trajectories for various gaits or motions. Also, the balancing motion can be defined easily by solving the differential equation without pre-processing or heuristic procedures. The actual experiments are performed on biped walking robot system IWR-III, developed in our Automatic Control Lab. The system has the structure of three pitches in each leg, and one roll and one prismatic type in balancing joints. The walking simulations and the experimental results on IWR-III are shown using the proposed formula and control algorithm.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.119-129
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of the study was to find out the effects of obstacle walking training according on gait and balance in stroke patients. Methods : Twenty-four stroke patients are randomly assigned to experimental group 1 (n=8), experimental group 2 (n=8) and control group (n=8). Experimental group 1 performed unexpected obstacle walking training, experimental group 2 performed fixed obstacle walking training and control group performed non obstacle walking training for 12 minutes per session, 5 times a week for 4 weeks. The gait analyzer G-walk were evaluated using gait cadence, gait velocity, and stride length, balance was evaluated using FES-K and BBS. Results : In within-group comparison of gait cadence, gait velocity and stride length of change, the experimental 1,2 groups showed significant improvements post intervention (p<.05) but control group showed no significant improvement. In between-groups comparison there was significant difference in the change of gait cadence, gait velocity and stride length pre and post intervention. In within-group comparison of FES-K and BBS scores, the experimental 1,2 groups showed significant improvements post intervention (p<.05) but control group showed no significant improvement. In between-groups comparison there was significant difference in the change of FES-K and BBS scores pre and post intervention (p<.05). Conclusion : Obstacle walking training can improve the gait, function and balance of stroke patients and obstacle walking training is effective for improving gait and balance compared to non-obstacle walking training.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.712-724
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a walking program for office workers in terms of social cognitive theory, walking activities and physiological indexes. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The sample consisted of 50 office workers who were identified as having low levels of physical activity according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ Research Committee, 2005). The participants were recruited from two companies in Seoul. Of the 50 participants, 26 were assigned to the non-equivalent experimental group and 24 to the control group. The walking program consisted of six didactic sessions via e-mail, two individual telecoaching sessions and three support group meetings over ten weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0 program. Results: The non-equivalent experimental group reported significantly higher posttest scores in walking activities and adhering to the walking protocol than the control group. There were no differences in reported self-efficacy, outcome expectations, body mass index and blood pressure between the two groups. Conclusion: These findings indicate that a walking program based on social cognitive theory is effective in increasing physical activities for office workers.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2012

Background: Hemiplegic patients have the problems of the balance and weight shifting to the affected leg in walking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of unilateral stepping exercise combined with auditory feedback on balance and walking ability of the hemiplegic patients. Methods: Thirty hemiplegic patients were allocated in study group (n=15) or control group (n=15). General exercise and weight supporting exercise were conducted for the control group, and general exercises and unilateral stepping exercise combined with auditory feedback were conducted for the study group. Exercise were conducted three times a week for six weeks. Balance ability was measured by Berg Balance Scale (BBS), postural assessment scale for stroke (PASS), and performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA). Walking ability was measured by time up and go test (TUG), 10m walk test (10mWT), and six minutes walk test (6MWT). Results: Balance and walking ability were significant increased in both group (p<.05). Balance and walking ability of the study group were more increased than that of the control group (p<.05). Conclusions: Unilateral stepping exercise combined with auditory feedback is more effective than weight supporting exercise to increase on balance and walking ability for the hemiplegic patients.