• 로봇학회논문지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.496-504
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• 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.

• 제어로봇시스템학회논문지
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• 제16권10호
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• pp.933-938
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• 2010

In this paper, we propose the organization of a sensor system and user's intent detection algorithm for walking assist rehabilitation robots. The main purpose of walking assist rehabilitation robots is assisting SCI patients to walk in normal environment. To use walking assist rehabilitation robot in normal environment, it is needed to consider various factors about user's safety and detection of user's intent and so on. For these purposes, we have analyzed the use case of rehabilitation robots and organized the system of sensors for walking assist rehabilitation robots and finally, we have developed the algorithm which is used to detect user's intent for those. We applied our proposal method in the rehabilitation robot, ROBIN, and verified their effectiveness by normal, not patient.

• 대한기계학회논문집A
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• 제38권8호
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• pp.837-848
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• 2014

본 논문에서는 보행이 불편한 노인들의 효과적인 자가 재활을 위한 보행 보조 로봇의 개발에 대해 연구하였다. 개발된 로봇의 주요 특징은 크게 유아보행기 및 전동휠체어 메커니즘을 융합한 안전성 및 운동성향상과 가변저항 및 스테레오 카메라를 이용한 정확한 보행 추종 제어 알고리즘으로 나눌 수 있다. 구체적으로, 유아보행기의 메커니즘을 적용하여 사용자가 보행 중 넘어지는 사고로부터 안전을 확보하는 동시에 다리근육의 부담을 줄여줄 수 있는 골반지지대를 설계하였으며, 전동휠체어와 같이 구동모터를 이용하여 사용자가 적은 힘으로도 로봇을 이동시킬 수 있도록 하였다. 다음으로, 골반지지대에 부착된 가변저항을 이용하여 사용자의 보행 의도 및 방향을 로봇이 자동적으로 판단하고 사용자를 추종할 수 있도록 하였으며, 스테레오 카메라를 이용한 사용자 하체모션분석 알고리즘으로부터 추종 반응속도와 정확성을 한층 높였다. 최종적으로, 단계적인 보행 보조 실험을 통해 개발된 로봇의 사용자 보행 추종 성능을 실험적으로 검증하였다.

• 로봇학회논문지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.144-151
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• 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.

• 로봇학회논문지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.323-329
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• 2020

This paper presents a control algorithm for a wearable walking aid robot for subjects with paraplegia after stroke. After a stroke, a slow, asymmetrical and unstable gait pattern is observed in a number of patients. In many cases, one leg can move in a relatively normal pattern, while the other leg is dysfunctional due to paralysis. We have adopted the so-called assist-as-needed control that encourages the patient to walk as much as possible while the robot assists as necessary to create the gait motion of the paralyzed leg. A virtual wall was implemented for the assist-as-needed control. A position based admittance controller was applied in the swing phase to follow human intentions for both the normal and paralyzed legs. A position controller was applied in the stance phase for both legs. A power controller was applied to obtain stable performance in that the output power of the system was delimited during the sample interval. In order to verify the proposed control algorithm, we performed a simulation with 1-DOF leg models. The preliminary results have shown that the control algorithm can follow human intentions during the swing phase by providing as much assistance as needed. In addition, the virtual wall effectively guided the paralyzed leg with stable force display.

• 한국의류학회지
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.1107-1119
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• 2020

This study analyzed a subject's body reaction and subjective sensation when wearing a gait-assistive rehabilitation robot. The research method measured skin and clothing surface temperatures for 'seating-standing' and 'walking in place' exercises after wearing a gait-assistive rehabilitation robot. In addition, subjective sensation and satisfaction were evaluated on a 7-point Likert scale. The study results showed that the average skin temperature during exercise while wearing the gait-assistive rehabilitation robot was within a comfortable range. However, during the 'seating-standing' exercise, the skin temperature was slightly lowered. Additionally, the clothing surface temperature tended to be lower than the pre-exercise temperature after all exercises. The subjective sensation evaluation results showed that the wear comfort of the waist part was low during mobility/activity. In addition, an overall improvement in the wear comfort of the robot is necessary. The short-time movement of wearing and walking in the gait-assistive rehabilitation robot did not interfere with the thermal comfort of the body. However, the robot needs to be ergonomically improved in consideration of the long wearing time along with improved material that to satisfy overall wearing comfort.

• 한국소음진동공학회논문집
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• 제21권10호
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• pp.934-939
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• 2011

This paper experimentally deals with the relationship between the ankle electromyogram(EMG) and walking motion in order to activate the ankle joint of a walking-assistance robot for rehabilitation. Based on the anatomical structure and motion pattern of an ankle joint, major muscles were selected for EMG measurements. Surface EMG signals were monitored for several human bodies at various stride distances and stride frequencies. Root-mean-squared magnitude of EMG signals were related with the walking conditions. It appeared that the magnitude of the ankle EMG signal was linearly proportional to the stride distance and stride frequency, and thus to the walking speed.

• 한국지능시스템학회논문지
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.631-638
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• 2012

본 논문은 슬관절 손상 환자의 하지근력 강화 재활훈련 장치에서 다리를 끌어주는 견인모터의 속도 프로파일을 휴머노이드 로봇 시뮬레이션을 통해 계산하는 방법을 새롭게 제안한다. 먼저 인체의 구조를 본 딴 휴머노이드 로봇의 3차원 전신 모델을 새롭게 구축하고, 표준 관절각도 데이터를 이 모델에 적용하여 자연스러운 보행을 시뮬레이션 했다. 그리고 하지의 대퇴부에 부착되어 있는 벨트와 견인모터와의 거리를 매 샘플링 타임에서 계산하여 이로부터 속도 프로파일을 도출하는 방식으로 보행 중 속도 파형을 생성한다. 휴머노이드 로봇의 기구학적 방법으로는 직진 보행에서 계산량이 적은 투영법을 사용했으며, 유각기의 관절 각도 프로파일은 Winter의 표준보행 데이터를 참조했다. 본 논문에서 제안한 방법으로 계산된 인체 특정부위 속도 프로파일은 제작 중인 트레드밀 재활훈련 장치에 적용될 예정이다.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.124-127
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• 2015

Purpose: The emphasis on gait rehabilitation after stroke depends on training support through the lower limbs, balance of body mass over the changing base of support. However, muscle weakness, lack of control of lower limb, and poor balance can interfere with training after stroke. For this case study report, a wearable robot orthosis was applied to stroke patients in order to verify its actual applicability on balance and gait ability in the clinical field. Methods: Two stroke patients participated in the training using the wearable robot orthosis. Wearable robot orthosis provides patient-initiated active assistance contraction during training. Training includes weight shift training, standing up and sitting down, ground walking, and stair up and down Training was applied a total of 20 times, five times a week for 4 weeks, for 30 minutes a day. Gait ability was determined by Stance phase symmetry profile, Swing phase symmetry profile, and velocity using the GAITRite system. Balance ability was measured using the Biodex balance system. Results: Subjects 1, 2 showed improved gait and balance ability with mean individual improvement of 72.4% for velocity, 19.4% for stance phase symmetry profile, 9.6% for swing phase symmetry profile, and 13.6% for balance ability. Conclusion: Training utilizing a wearable robot orthosis can be useful for improvement of the gait and balance ability of stroke patients.

• 제어로봇시스템학회논문지
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• 제11권11호
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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.