• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.286-292
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• 2009

This paper proposes a knee-wearable robot system for assisting the muscle power of human knee by processing EMG (Electromyogram) signals. Although there are many muscles affecting the knee joint motion, the rectus femoris and biceps femoris among them play a core role in the extension and flexion motion, respectively, of the knee joint. The proposed knee-wearable robot system consists of three parts; the sensor for measuring and processing EMG signals, controller for estimating and applying the required knee torque, and actuator for driving the knee-wearable mechanism. Ultimately, we suggest the motion control method for knee-wearable robot system by processing the EMG signals of corresponding two muscles in this paper. Also, we show the effectiveness of the proposed knee-wearable robot system through the experimental results.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2017

Wearable robots are receiving great attention from the public, as well as researchers, because its motivation is to improve the quality of lives of people. Above all, complete paraplegic patients due to spinal cord injury (SCI) might be the most adequate target users of the wearable robots, because they definitely need physical assistance due to the complete loss of muscular strength and sensory functions. Furthermore, the medical care of complete paraplegics by using the wearable robots have significantly reduced the mortality rate and improved the life expectancy. The requirements of the wearable robot for complete paraplegics are actuation torque, locomotion speed, wearing sensation, robust gait stability, safety, and practicality (i.e., size, volume, weight, and energy efficiency). A WalkON Suit is the wearable robot that has satisfied the requirements of the wearable robot for complete paraplegics and participated in the powered exoskeleton race of Cybathlon 2016. In this paper, configuration of the WalkON Suit, human-machine interface, gait pattern, control algorithm, and evaluation results are introduced.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to develop the algorithm which can control muscle power assist robot especially for elderly. Recently, wearable robots for power assistance are developed by many researchers, and its application fields are also variable such as for medical or military equipment. However, there are many technical barriers to develop the wearable robot. This study suggest a control method improving performance of a wearable robot system by using a EMG signal of major muscles and a force sensor signal as command signal of system. The result of the robot Prototype efficiency experiment, the case of Maximum Isometric motion it suggest 100% power of muscle, the man need only 66% of MVIC(Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction) to lift 5kg dumbbell without robot assist. However the man needs only 52% of MVIC to lift 5kg dumbbell with robot assist. Therefore 20% muscle power increased with robot assist. Also, we designed light weight robot mechanism that extract the command signal verified and drive the wanted motions.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2002.06c
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• pp.37-40
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• 2002

Intelligent Wearable Module is intelligent system that arises when a human is part of the feedback loop of a computational process like a certain control system. Applied system is mobile robot. This paper represents the mobile robot control system remote controlled by Intelligent Wearable Module. So far, owing to the development of internet technologies, lots of remote control methods through internet have been proposed. To control a mobile robot through internet and guide it under unknown environment, We propose a control method activated by Intelligent Wearable Module. In a proposed system, PDA acts as a user interface to communicate with notebook as a controller of the mobile robot system using TCP/IP protocol, and the notebook controls the mobile robot system. Tlle information about the direction and velocity of the mobile robot feedbacks to the PDA and the PDA send new control method produced from the fuzzy inference engine.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.444-455
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• 2023

In this report, a specialization plan for wearable robots by mission profile was investigated and analyzed to derive an application plan. The final goal of this study was to derive the operating requirements of wearable robots according to specialized plans, and to conduct a specialized study on wearable robots by mission profile through investigation/analysis of specialized plans for each mission profile. In the study, 1) Research on technology trends related to military wearable robots such as patents and papers, 2) Research/analysis of mission profiles to characterize wearable robots, 3) Analysis of wearable robot specialization plans according to mission profiles, and 4) Requirements for wearable robot operation were derived. In the first time of the study, a survey on technology trends related to wearable robots for soldiers such as patents and papers was completed, and a military consultative body was conducted to derive measures to characterize wearable robots. In addition, a survey was conducted on mission profiles, and the second time study derived Key Performance Parameters (KPP) for operational performance, core performance, and system performance based on scenarios by mission profile. However, it is revealed that the KPP derived from the research results was not covered in this paper because it was judged that more in-depth research was needed prior to disclosure. In order to prepare for future battlefield situations and increase the usability of wearable robots, this study was conducted to characterize wearable robots by considering the characteristics of soldiers' equipment according to mission profiles and to characterize wearable robots by mission profile.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.89-99
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• 2017

This paper describes the development of a thigh wearable robot for power assistance during stair climbing. In the wearable robot developed in this study, high-power BLDC motors and high-capacity harmonic reduction gears are used to effectively assist the thigh muscle during stair climbing. In particular, normal ground and stair are distinguished accurately by using wireless smart shoes, and the stair climbing assistance is performed by activating the actuators at an appropriate time. Impedance of the hip joint was effectively reduced by performing friction compensation of the gears, and a wearing adjustment mechanism was designed to fit the robot to the thigh by conveniently modifying the width and tilting angle of the robot using set collars. Consequently, the performance of the developed thigh wearable robot was verified through stair climbing experiments with EMG measurement.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.49.5-49
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• 2002

$\textbullet$ Developing "muscle shit" providing muscular support $\textbullet$ Based on a new concept: wearable robot $\textbullet$ Be applicable directly to human $\textbullet$ McKibben artificial muscles are sewn into a garment

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.12 no.2
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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.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1864-1874
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• 2005

This paper describes a wearable multi-modal user interface design and its implementation for a teleoperated field robot system. Recently some teleoperated field robots are employed for hazard environment applications (e.g. rescue, explosive ordnance disposal, security). To complete these missions in outdoor environment, the robot system must have appropriate functions, accuracy and reliability. However, the more functions it has, the more difficulties occur in operation of the functions. To cope up with this problem, an effective user interface should be developed. Furthermore, the user interface is needed to be wearable for portability and prompt action. This research starts at the question: how to teleoperate the complicated slave robot easily. The main challenge is to make a simple and intuitive user interface with a wearable shape and size. This research provides multi-modalities such as visual, auditory and haptic sense. It enables an operator to control every functions of a field robot more intuitively. As a result, an EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) demonstration is conducted to verify the validity of the proposed wearable multi-modal user interface.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.313-323
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• 2023

The wearable robot system is designed to assist human skeletal and muscular systems for enhancing user's abilities in various fields, including medical, industrial, and military. The military has an expanding need for wearable robots with the integration of surveillance/control systems and advanced equipment in unstructured battlefield environments. However, there is a lack of research on the design and mechanism of wearable robots, especially for power assist systems. This study proposes a lightweight wearable robot system that provides comfortable wear and muscle support effects in various movements for soldiers performing high-strength and endurance missions. The Power assist mechanism is described and verified, and the tasks that require power assist are analyzed. This study explain the system including its driving mechanism, control system, and mechanical design. Finally, the performance of the robot is verified through experiments and evaluations, demonstrating its effectiveness in muscle support.