• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics B
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• v.28B no.11
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• pp.886-896
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• 1991

In this paper a new turning gait is proposed for a quadruped walking robot. The proposed scheme makes it possible to control the translation and orientation of the walking robot simultaneously. At first the feasible leg sequences which can guarantee a positive longitudinal gait stability margin for each direction of movement are found. A method for finding the lifting time of each leg of a feasible leg sequince and selecting an optimal gait among feasible gaits is then suggested. The proposed gait can be appled to control the posture of walking robots and to generate an optimal gait for a desired movement of translation and rotation of the walking robot systematically.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.373-381
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• 2009

In this paper, a humanoid robot is simulated and implemented to walk up a staircase using the blending polynomial and genetic algorithm. Using recently developed kinematics for a biped robot, four schemes for walking up a staircase are newly proposed and simulated separately. For the two schemes of landing a swaying leg on the upper stair, the joint trajectories of seven motors are particularly optimized to generate an energy-minimal motion with the guarantee of walking stability. The proposed scheme of walking upstair is validated by an experiment with a small humanoid robot.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2013

Hexapod walking robots are superior to biped or quadruped ones in terms of walking stability. Therefore hexapod robots have the advantage in performing intelligent tasks based on walking stability. In this paper, we propose a hexapod robot that has one fore leg, one hind leg, two left legs, and two right legs and can perform various intelligent tasks. We build the robot by using 26 motors and implement a controller which consists of a host PC, a DSP main controller, an AVR auxiliary controller, and smart phone/pad. We show by several experiments that the implemented robot can perform various intelligent tasks such as uneven surface walking, tracking and kicking a ball, remote control and 3D monitoring by using data obtained from stereo camera, infrared sensors, ultra sound sensors, and contact sensors.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.553-559
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• 2015

The purpose of this research is to develop a gait assistive device to enhance the gait stability and training efficiency of stroke patients. The configuration of this device is mainly composed of a motored wheel and a single cane whose lower end is attached to a motored wheel frame. A patient can feel haptic information from continuous ground contact from the wheel while walking through the grip handle. In addition, the wheeled cane can avoid using excessive use of the patient's upper limb for weight support and motivate the patient to use a paralyzed lower limb more actively. Moreover, the proposed device can provide intuitive and safe user interaction by integrating a force sensor and a tilt sensor equipped to the cane frame, and a switch sensor at the cane's handle. The admittance control has been implemented for the patient to change the walking speed intuitively by using the interaction forces at the handle. A hemi-paretic stroke patient participated in the walking assistive experiments as a pilot study to verify the effectiveness of the proposed haptic cane system. The results showed that the patient could improve walking speed and muscle activations during walking with a constant speed mode of the haptic cane. Moreover, the patient could maintain the preferred walking speeds and gait stability regardless of the magnitude of resistance forces with the admittance control mode of the haptic cane. The proposed robotic gait assistive device with a simple and intuitive mechanism can provide efficient gait training modes to stroke patients with high possibilities of widespread utilizations.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.170-177
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• 2019

In this paper, three theories for improving the stability of quadruped robot are presented. First, the Minimum-Jerk Trajectory is used to optimize the leg trajectory. Second, we compare the newly proposed sine wave and the conventional LSM in this paper based on the Jerk value. Third, we calculate the optimum stride of the sway through repetitive robot simulation using ADAMS-MATLAB cosimulation. Through the above process, the improvement of the robot walking is compared with the existing theory. First, the average gradient of the point where the leg trajectory changes rapidly was reduced from at least 1.2 to 2.9 by using the Minimum-Jerk targetory for the movement of the body and the end of the leg during the first walk, thereby increasing the walking stability. Second, the average Jerk was reduced by 0.019 on the Z-axis, 0.457 on the X-axis, and 0.02, 3D on the Y-axis by 0.479 using the Sin wave type sways presented in this paper, rather than the LSM(Longitude Stability Margin) method. Third, the length of the optimal stride for walking at least the Jerk value was derived from the above analysis, and the 20cm width length was the most stable.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.413-421
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate biomechanical changes of the lower limb including dynamic stability with changes in illumination (300Lx, 150Lx, and 5Lx) and slope (level and $15^{\circ}$ downhill) as risk factors for elderly falls. Method : Fifteen elderly females were selected for this study. Seven infrared cameras (Proreflex MCU 240: Qualisys, Sweden) and an instrumented treadmill (Bertec, USA) surrounded by illumination regulators and lights to change the levels of illumination were used to collect the data. A One-Way ANOVA with repeated measures using SPSS 12.0 was used to analyze statistical differences by the changes in illumination and slope. Statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. Results : No differences in the joint movement of the lower limbs were found with changes in illumination (p>.05). The maximum plantar flexion movement of the ankle joints appeared to be greater at 5Lx compared to 300Lx during slope gait (p<.05). Additionally, maximum extension movement of the hip joints appeared to be greater at 5Lx and 150Lx compared to 300Lx during slope gait (p<.05). The maximum COM-COP angular velocity (direction to medial side of the body) of dynamic stability appeared to be smaller at 150Lx and 300Lx compared to 5Lx during level gait (p<.05). The minimum COM-COP angular velocity (direction to lateral side to the body) of dynamic stability appeared smaller at 150Lx compared to 5Lx during level gait (p<.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, elderly people use a stabilization strategy that reduces walk speed and dynamic stability as darkness increases. Therefore, the changes in illumination during gait induce the changes in gait mechanics which may increase the levels of biomechanical risk in elderly falls.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.17-22
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• 2009

Purpose: The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of core strength exercises on the balance control and walking ability of stroke patients. Methods: Twelve stroke patients participated in this study. These patients were divided into two groups (a core stability group and a control group). There were 6 subjects in each group. They participated in core strength exercises for 3 weeks. These exercises included The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Messen Trairuieren Dokumentieren (MTD) Systems for balance and walking were measured and compared before and after the treatment. Results: First, core strength exercises improved balance control of patients with stroke by increasing weight shifting to the affected side. Second, core strength exercises improved the walking ability of patients with stroke by reducing the TUG score. Third, there was a significant correlation between balance control and walking. Conclusion: Core strength exercises are effective for improving both balance control and walking.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2003

This paper presented a design and control of a biped walking RGO(robotic gait orthosis) and its simulation. The biped walking RGO was distinguished from the other one by which had a very light-weight and a new RGO system will be made of 12-servo motors and 12-controllers. The vibration evaluation of the dynamic PLS(posterior leaf splint) on the biped walking RGO was used to access by the 3-axis accelerometer with a low frequency vibration of less than 30 Hz. The galt of the biped walking RGO depends on the constrains of mechanical kinematics and the initial posture. The stability of dynamic walking was investigated by analyzing the ZMP (zero moment point) of the biped walking RGO. It was designed according to the human wear type and was able to accomodate itself to the environments of S.C.I. Patients. The Joints of each leg were adopted with a good kinematic characteristics. To analyse joint kinematic properties. we made the strain stress analysis of the dynamic PLS and the analysis study of FEM with a dynamic PLS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify whether backward walking exercise was more effective than conventional physical therapy for balance and gait in hemiplegic stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=9) or control (n=9) group. The experimental and control group performed backward walking exercise and conventional physical therapy, respectively, for 8 weeks. Stability Index (SI) and Weight Distribution Index (WDI) during standing were assessed using the Tetrax Balance System. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Korean version of the Berg Balance Scale (K-BBS) were used to evaluate balance and fall risk. Walking speed, stride length, and step length on the affected side were measured using the 10-Meter Walk and ink foot printing tests. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for within- and between- group comparisons, respectively. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significantly higher changes in SI (p<.01), WDI (p<.01), TUG (p<.001), and BBS score (p<.001) following intervention compared with the control group. The experimental group also showed significantly greater improvements in walking speed (p<.01), stride length (p<.001), and step length on the affected side (p<.001) after intervention compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Backward walking exercise is an effective intervention to improve balance and gait in hemiplegic stroke patients.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the application of abdominal brace techniques on muscle activity of the trunk and lower extremities when walking. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: This study was conducted on 26 healthy adults in their 20s, and the subjects performed two conditions in random order: walking with the abdominal bracing technique and walking in an abdominal relaxation state (normal gait). Muscle activity was measured on the dominant side of all subjects using surface electromyography, and the attachment sites were the erector spinae, external oblique, internal oblique, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis oblique muscles. Each condition was measured three times to calculate and analyze the average value. Results: When walking using the abdominal brace technique, the muscle activity of the erector spinae, external oblique, internal oblique, and vastus lateralis increased significantly (p<0.05), and the muscle activity of the vastus medialis increased as well but was not significant. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that it is possible to be used as an effective guide to increasing the muscle activity and stability of the trunk and lower extremities through the application of the abdominal bracing technique during walking.