• 로봇학회논문지
• /
• 제1권1호
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2006

In this paper, we propose a methodology for classifying types of lower limb disability and their mechanical structure, based on extensive survey of previous developments. We also propose a task-oriented design with human-friendly and energy-efficient assistive system. The result can be used for optimal design of wearable walking-assistive robot considering the type of disability and the content of task.

• 재활복지공학회논문지
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2012

외골격 보행보조로봇은 로봇 시스템을 인체에 직접 착용하는 형태이므로 기구적인 측면에서는 인체 근골격 구조에 최적화된 메커니즘으로 구성되어야 하며, 제어적인 측면에서는 근골격계의 손상을 일으킬 수 있는 로봇의 부적합한 거동을 예방할 수 있는 안전장치를 갖추어야 한다. 외골격 보행보조로봇을 개발하기 위해서는 보행이나 근골격계의 거동특성에 대한 이해 및 분석이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 최적화된 로봇시스템 설계를 위하여 구동장치의 관절력과 동력 용량을 예측하였으며 몇 가지 보행동작에 대한.관절거동특성을 파악할 수 있는 자료를 획득하였다. 평지보행을 제외한 나타나는 주요한 동작으로는 계단오르고 내리기, 안기, 서기, 경사면 걷기 등이 있다. 본 연구에서는 경사면 걷기를 제외한 모든 동작에 대한 동작 실험을 수행하고 분석하였다.

• 로봇학회논문지
• /
• 제12권2호
• /
• pp.144-151
• /
• 2017

An important characteristic of people with partially impaired walking ability, such as incomplete paraplegics, is that they are able to generate voluntary motion of lower-limbs. Therefore, wearable robots for the incomplete paraplegic patients require a different assistance method compared to those of complete paraplegics. First, the wearable robot should be controlled to not resist wearer's motion. Second, it should be able to generate assistive torque accurately when needed. In this paper, a wearable robot, called EROWA, for the incomplete paraplegic patients is introduced. EROWA utilizes compact rotary series elastic actuators (cRSEAs) and a control method called the zero impedance control to reduce the mechanical resistance. An assistive torque trajectory is proposed to assist gait in this paper. The proposed method is verified by simulation and experimental studies.

• 제어로봇시스템학회논문지
• /
• 제11권11호
• /
• pp.936-942
• /
• 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.

• 한국기계가공학회지
• /
• 제18권12호
• /
• pp.111-116
• /
• 2019

With the recent acceleration of industrial technologies and active research, wearable robot technologies have been applied to various fields. To study the utility of wearable robots, basic research on kinetic mechanisms of the human body, bio-signal analysis, and system control are essential. In this study, we investigated the basic structure of a wearable system and the operating principles of a driving mechanism. The control system and supporting structure, which comprise the driving mechanism, were designed and manufactured. Motion and load analyses were performed simultaneously for the design of the kinematic drive, and the driving mechanism was constructed by analyzing walking motion. The operating conditions of the cylinder were verified by stride via driving experiments. Further, the accuracy and responsiveness of the system were confirmed by comparison with actual motion, and the system safety was validated by applying loads.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• 제11권4호
• /
• pp.478-487
• /
• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to analyze the effect of wearable complex muscle support system on energy efficiency during walking in elderly. Design: Cross sectional study Methods: Twenty healthy elderly participated in this study. All subjects performed a 6 minuteswalk test(6MWT) and stair climbing test in dual, slack and no suit conditions. In each condition, oxygen consumption(VO₂), metabolic equivalents(METs), energy expenditure measures(EEm), physiological cost index(PCI), walking velocity and heartrate were measured. Through repeated measured ANOVA, it was investigated whether there was a statistically significant difference in the measurement results between the three conditions. Results: In over-ground walking, VO₂, METs and EEm showed significant differences between no suit and slack conditions(p<0.05). In stair climbing, VO₂ showed significant difference between slack and dual conditions(p<0.05). Also, METs and EEm showed significant differences between no suit and slack, and between slack and dual conditions(p<0.05). Conclusions: Wearing the wearable complex muscle support system for elderly does not have much benefit in energy metabolism efficiency in over-ground, but there is a benefit in stair walking.

• 로봇학회논문지
• /
• 제18권4호
• /
• pp.496-504
• /
• 2023

This paper recognizes the motion intention of the wearer using a muscle stiffness sensor and proposes a control system for a wearable robot based on this. The proposed system recognizes the onset time of the motion using sensor data, determines the assistance mode, and provides assistive torque to the hip flexion/extension motion of the wearer through the generated reference trajectory according to the determined mode. The onset time of motion was detected using the CUSUM algorithm from the muscle stiffness sensor, and by comparing the detection results of the onset time with the EMG sensor and IMU, it verified its applicability as an input device for recognizing the intention of the wearer before motion. In addition, the stability of the proposed method was confirmed by comparing the results detected according to the walking speed of two subjects (1 male and 1 female). Based on these results, the assistance mode (gait assistance mode and muscle strengthening mode) was determined based on the detection results of onset time, and a reference trajectory was generated through cubic spline interpolation according to the determined assistance mode. And, the practicality of the proposed system was also confirmed by applying it to an actual wearable robot.

• 대한기계학회논문집A
• /
• 제41권8호
• /
• pp.771-782
• /
• 2017

본 논문은 노약자들의 발목근력보조를 위한 착용형 로봇에 대해서 서술하였다. 기존 착용형 로봇들은 보행 시 필요한 근력을 보조하기 위해 대부분 모터와 감속기를 사용하였다. 하지만 모터와 감속기의 조합은 무게가 무거울 뿐만 아니라 감속기 치차의 마찰때문에 실제 사람의 근육과 달리 강성과 토크를 동시에 제어하기 어려운 한계가 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 모터/감속기 조합보다 가볍고 안전하며 근력을 보조하는 힘을 충분히 발휘할 수 있는 Mckibben 공압 근육을 사용하였다. 발목의 피칭 모션에 이용되는 종아리 가자미근 및 앞정강근의 힘을 한 쌍의 공압 근육을 사용한 상극구동으로 보조하였으며, 상극구동제어를 위해 상극구동 모델 파라미터들을 실험적으로 도출하였다. 사용자의 보행의지를 판단하고자 발바닥에 부착된 압력변위센서로 압력과 압력중심위치를 측정하여 발바닥의 하중과 발목토크를 계산하였고, 이를 기반으로 공압 근육 관절의 강성과 토크를 동시에 제어하였다. 최종적으로, 트레드밀에서 근전도 신호를 측정하여 발목근력보조로봇의 성능을 실험적으로 입증하였다.

• 로봇학회논문지
• /
• 제12권2호
• /
• pp.124-131
• /
• 2017

This paper present a novel approach to control the lower body power assistive exoskeleton system of a HEXAR-CR35 aimed at improving a muscular strength. More specifically the control of based on the human intention is crucial of importance to ensure intuitive and dexterous motion with the human. In this contribution, we proposed the detection algorithm of the human intention using the MCRS which are developed to measure the contraction of the muscle with variation of the circumference. The proposed algorithm provides a joint motion of exoskeleton corresponding the relate muscles. The main advantages of the algorithm are its simplicity, computational efficiency to control one joint of the HEXAR-CR35 which are consisted knee-active type exoskeleton (the other joints are consisted with the passive or quasi-passive joints that can be arranged by analyzing of the human joint functions). As a consequence, the motion of exoskeleton is generated according to the gait phase: swing and stance phase which are determined by the foot insole sensors. The experimental evaluation of the proposed algorithm is achieved in walking with the exoskeleton while carrying the external mass in the back side.