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Molinaro DD, Kang I, Young AJ. Estimating human joint moments unifies exoskeleton control, reducing user effort. Sci Robot 2024; 9:eadi8852. [PMID: 38507475 DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adi8852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Robotic lower-limb exoskeletons can augment human mobility, but current systems require extensive, context-specific considerations, limiting their real-world viability. Here, we present a unified exoskeleton control framework that autonomously adapts assistance on the basis of instantaneous user joint moment estimates from a temporal convolutional network (TCN). When deployed on our hip exoskeleton, the TCN achieved an average root mean square error of 0.142 newton-meters per kilogram across 35 ambulatory conditions without any user-specific calibration. Further, the unified controller significantly reduced user metabolic cost and lower-limb positive work during level-ground and incline walking compared with walking without wearing the exoskeleton. This advancement bridges the gap between in-lab exoskeleton technology and real-world human ambulation, making exoskeleton control technology viable for a broad community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean D Molinaro
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Inseung Kang
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Aaron J Young
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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2
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Manzoori AR, Malatesta D, Primavesi J, Ijspeert A, Bouri M. Evaluation of controllers for augmentative hip exoskeletons and their effects on metabolic cost of walking: explicit versus implicit synchronization. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1324587. [PMID: 38532879 PMCID: PMC10963600 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1324587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Efficient gait assistance by augmentative exoskeletons depends on reliable control strategies. While numerous control methods and their effects on the metabolic cost of walking have been explored in the literature, the use of different exoskeletons and dissimilar protocols limit direct comparisons. In this article, we present and compare two controllers for hip exoskeletons with different synchronization paradigms. Methods: The implicit-synchronization-based approach, termed the Simple Reflex Controller (SRC), determines the assistance as a function of the relative loading of the feet, resulting in an emerging torque profile continuously assisting extension during stance and flexion during swing. On the other hand, the Hip-Phase-based Torque profile controller (HPT) uses explicit synchronization and estimates the gait cycle percentage based on the hip angle, applying a predefined torque profile consisting of two shorter bursts of assistance during stance and swing. We tested the controllers with 23 naïve healthy participants walking on a treadmill at 4 km ⋅ h-1, without any substantial familiarization. Results: Both controllers significantly reduced the metabolic rate compared to walking with the exoskeleton in passive mode, by 18.0% (SRC, p < 0.001) and 11.6% (HPT, p < 0.001). However, only the SRC led to a significant reduction compared to walking without the exoskeleton (8.8%, p = 0.004). The SRC also provided more mechanical power and led to bigger changes in the hip joint kinematics and walking cadence. Our analysis of mechanical powers based on a whole-body analysis suggested a reduce in ankle push-off under this controller. There was a strong correlation (Pearson's r = 0.778, p < 0.001) between the metabolic savings achieved by each participant with the two controllers. Conclusion: The extended assistance duration provided by the implicitly synchronized SRC enabled greater metabolic reductions compared to the more targeted assistance of the explicitly synchronized HPT. Despite the different assistance profiles and metabolic outcomes, the correlation between the metabolic reductions with the two controllers suggests a difference in individual responsiveness to assistance, prompting more investigations to explore the person-specific factors affecting assistance receptivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Davide Malatesta
- Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julia Primavesi
- Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Mohamed Bouri
- Biorobotics Laboratory, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Translational Neural Engineering Laboratory, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Hsu TW, Gregg RD, Thomas GC. Robustification of Bayesian-Inference-Based Gait Estimation for Lower-limb Wearable Robots. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2024; 9:2104-2111. [PMID: 38313832 PMCID: PMC10831317 DOI: 10.1109/lra.2024.3354558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Lower-limb wearable robots designed to assist people in everyday activities must reliably recover from any momentary confusion about what the user is doing. Such confusion might arise from momentary sensor failure, collision with an obstacle, losing track of gait due to an out-of-distribution stride, etc. Systems that infer a user's walking condition from angle measurements using Bayesian filters (e.g., extended Kalman filters) have been shown to accurately track gait across a range of activities. However, due to the fundamental problem structure and assumptions of Bayesian filter implementations, such estimators risk becoming 'lost' with little hope of a quick recovery. In this paper, we 1) introduce a Monte Carlo-based metric to quantify the robustness of pattern-tracking gait estimators, 2) propose strategies for improving tracking robustness, and 3) systematically evaluate them against this new metric using a publicly available gait biomechanics dataset. Our results, aggregating 2,700 trials of simulated walking of 10 able-bodied subjects under random perturbations, suggest that drastic improvements in robustness (from 8.9% to 99%) are possible using relatively simple modifications to the estimation process without noticeably degrading estimator accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Wei Hsu
- Ting-Wei Hsu was with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA. He is now with Bechamo LLC, Buffalo, NY 14203 USA
| | - Robert D Gregg
- Robert D. Gregg is with the Department of Robotics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Gray C Thomas
- Gray C. Thomas was with the Department of Robotics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA. He is now with the J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
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Daliri M, Ghorbani M, Akbarzadeh A, Negahban H, Ebrahimzadeh MH, Rahmanipour E, Moradi A. Powered single hip joint exoskeletons for gait rehabilitation: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2024; 25:80. [PMID: 38245729 PMCID: PMC10799403 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07189-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gait disorders and as a consequence, robotic rehabilitation techniques are becoming increasingly prevalent as the population ages. In the area of rehabilitation robotics, using lightweight single hip joint exoskeletons are of significance. Considering no prior systematic review article on clinical outcomes, we aim to systematically review powered hip exoskeletons in terms of gait parameters and metabolic expenditure effects. METHODS Three databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of science were searched for clinical articles comparing outcomes of gait rehabilitation using hip motorized exoskeleton with conventional methods, on patients with gait disorder or healthy individuals. Of total number of 37 reviewed articles, 14 trials were quantitatively analyzed. Analyses performed in terms of gait spatiotemporal parameters like speed (self-speed and maximum speed), step length, stride length, cadence, and oxygen consumption. RESULTS Improved clinical outcomes of gait spatiotemporal parameters with hip joint exoskeletons are what our review's findings show. In terms of gait values, meta-analysis indicates that rehabilitation with single hip joint exoskeleton enhanced parameters of maximum speed by 0.13 m/s (0.10-0.17) and step length by 0.06 m (0.05-0.07). For the remaining investigated gait parameters, no statistically significant difference was observed. Regarding metabolic parameters, oxygen consumption was lower in individuals treated with hip exoskeleton (- 1.23 ml/min/kg; range - 2.13 to - 0.32). CONCLUSION Although the analysis demonstrated improvement with just specific gait measures utilizing powered hip exoskeletons, the lack of improvement in all parameters is likely caused by the high patient condition heterogeneity among the evaluated articles. We also noted in patients who rehabilitated with the hip exoskeleton, the oxygen cost was lower. More randomized controlled trials are needed to verify both the short- and long-term clinical outcomes, including patient-reported measures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level I (systematic review and meta-analysis).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahla Daliri
- Orthopedics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ghorbani
- Orthopedics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Alireza Akbarzadeh
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hossein Negahban
- Orthopedics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Paramedical and Rehabilitation Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Elham Rahmanipour
- Orthopedics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Moradi
- Orthopedics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Manzoori AR, Ye T, Malatesta D, Lugaz C, Pajot O, Ijspeert A, Bouri M. Gait Phase Estimation in Steady Walking: A Comparative Study of Methods Based on the Phase Portrait of the Hip Angle. IEEE Int Conf Rehabil Robot 2023; 2023:1-6. [PMID: 37941198 DOI: 10.1109/icorr58425.2023.10304747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Accurate real-time estimation of the gait phase (GP) is crucial for many control methods in exoskeletons and prostheses. A class of approaches to GP estimation construct the phase portrait of a segment or joint angle, and use the normalized polar angle of this diagram to estimate the GP. Although several studies have investigated such methods, quantitative information regarding their performance is sparse. In this work, we assess the performance of 3 portrait-based methods in flat and inclined steady walking conditions, using quantitative metrics of accuracy, repeatability and linearity. Two methods use portraits of the hip angle versus angular velocity (AVP), and hip angle versus integral of the angle (IAP). In a novel third method, a linear transformation is applied to the portrait to improve its circularity (CSP). An independent heel-strike (HS) detection algorithm is employed in all algorithms, rather than assuming HSs to occur at a constant point on the portrait. The novel method shows improvements in all metrics, notably significant root-mean-square error reductions compared to IAP (-3%, p < 0.001) and AVP (-2.4%, p < 0.001) in slope, and AVP (-1.61%, p = 0.0015) in flat walking. A non-negligible inter-subject variability is observed between phase angles at HS (equivalent to up to 8.4% of error in the GP), highlighting the importance of explicit HS detection for portrait-based methods.
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Normand MA, Lee J, Su H, Sulzer JS. The effect of hip exoskeleton weight on kinematics, kinetics, and electromyography during human walking. J Biomech 2023; 152:111552. [PMID: 37004392 PMCID: PMC11003446 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
In exoskeleton research, transparency is the degree to which a device hinders the movement of the user, a critical component of performance and usability. Transparency is most often evaluated individually, thus lacking generalization. Our goal was to systematically evaluate transparency due to inertial effects on gait of a hypothetical hip exoskeleton. We predicted that the weight distribution around the pelvis and the amount of weight applied would change gait characteristics. We instructed 21 healthy individuals to walk on a treadmill while bearing weights on the pelvis between 4 and 8 kg in three different configurations, bilaterally, unilaterally (left side) and on the lumbar portion of the back (L4). We measured kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity during randomly ordered trials of 1.5 min at typical walking speed. We also calculated the margin of stability to measure medial-lateral stability. We observed that loading the hips bilaterally with 4 kg had no changes in kinematics, kinetics, dynamic stability, or muscle activity, but above 6 kg, sagittal joint power was increased. Loading the lumbar area increased posterior pelvic tilt at 6 kg and decreased dynamic stability at 4 kg, with many individuals reporting some discomfort. For the unilateral placement, above 4 kg dynamic stability was decreased and hip joint power was increased, and above 6 kg the pelvis begins to dip towards the loaded side. These results show the different effects of weight distribution around the pelvis. This study represents a novel, systematic approach to characterizing transparency in exoskeleton design (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05120115).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Normand
- Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jeonghwan Lee
- Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Hao Su
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University and Joint NCSU/UNC Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - James S Sulzer
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at MetroHealth Hospital and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Park H, Kim S, Nussbaum MA, Srinivasan D. A pilot study investigating motor adaptations when learning to walk with a whole-body powered exoskeleton. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2023; 69:102755. [PMID: 36921425 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2023.102755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence is emerging on how whole-body powered exoskeleton (EXO) use impacts users in basic occupational work scenarios, yet our understanding of how users learn to use this complex technology is limited. We explored how novice users adapted to using an EXO during gait. Six novices and five experienced users completed the study. Novices completed an initial training/familiarization gait session, followed by three subsequent gait sessions using the EXO, while experienced users completed one gait session with the EXO. Spatiotemporal gait measures, pelvis and lower limb joint kinematics, muscle activities, EXO torques, and human-EXO interaction forces were measured. Adaptations among novices were most pronounced in spatiotemporal gait measures, followed by joint kinematics, with smaller changes evident in muscle activity and EXO joint torques. Compared to the experienced users, novices exhibited a shorter step length and walked with significantly greater anterior pelvic tilt and less hip extension. Novices also used lower joint torques from the EXO at the hip and knee, and they had greater biceps femoris activity. Overall, our results may suggest that novices exhibited clear progress in learning, but they had not yet adopted motor strategies similar to those of experienced users after the three sessions. We suggest potential future directions to enhance motor adaptations to powered EXO in terms of both training protocols and human-EXO interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanjun Park
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Sunwook Kim
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Maury A Nussbaum
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Divya Srinivasan
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
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Yu S, Yang J, Huang TH, Zhu J, Visco CJ, Hameed F, Stein J, Zhou X, Su H. Artificial Neural Network-Based Activities Classification, Gait Phase Estimation, and Prediction. Ann Biomed Eng 2023:10.1007/s10439-023-03151-y. [PMID: 36681749 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-023-03151-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Gait patterns are critical to health monitoring, gait impairment assessment, and wearable device control. Unrhythmic gait pattern detection under community-based conditions is a new frontier in this area. The present paper describes a high-accuracy gait phase estimation and prediction algorithm built on a two-stage artificial neural network. This work targets to develop an algorithm that can estimate and predict the gait cycle in real time using a portable controller with only two IMU sensors (one on each thigh) in the community setting. Our algorithm can detect the gait phase in unrhythmic conditions during walking, stair ascending, and stair descending, and classify these activities with standing. Moreover, our algorithm is able to predict both future intra- and inter-stride gait phases, offering a potential means to improve wearable device controller performance. The proposed data-driven algorithm is based on a dataset consisting of 5 able-bodied subjects and validated on 3 different able-bodied subjects. Under unrhythmic activity situations, validation shows that the algorithm can accurately identify multiple activities with 99.55% accuracy, and estimate ([Formula: see text]: 6.3%) and predict 200-ms-ahead ([Formula: see text]: 8.6%) the gait phase percentage in real time, which are on average 57.7 and 54.0% smaller than the error from the event-based method in the same conditions. This study showcases a solution to estimate and predict gait status for multiple unrhythmic activities, which may be deployed to controllers for wearable robots or health monitoring devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyue Yu
- Lab of Biomechatronics and Intelligent Robotics (BIRO), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Jianfu Yang
- Lab of Biomechatronics and Intelligent Robotics (BIRO), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Tzu-Hao Huang
- Lab of Biomechatronics and Intelligent Robotics (BIRO), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Junxi Zhu
- Lab of Biomechatronics and Intelligent Robotics (BIRO), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Christopher J Visco
- Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Farah Hameed
- Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Joel Stein
- Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Xianlian Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, 07102, USA
| | - Hao Su
- Lab of Biomechatronics and Intelligent Robotics (BIRO), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.
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Park JS, Kim CH. Ground-Reaction-Force-Based Gait Analysis and Its Application to Gait Disorder Assessment: New Indices for Quantifying Walking Behavior. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:7558. [PMID: 36236656 PMCID: PMC9571167 DOI: 10.3390/s22197558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Gait assessment is an important tool for determining whether a person has a gait disorder. Existing gait analysis studies have a high error rate due to the heel-contact-event-based technique. Our goals were to overcome the shortcomings of existing gait analysis techniques and to develop more objective indices for assessing gait disorders. This paper proposes a method for assessing gait disorders via the observation of changes in the center of pressure (COP) in the medial-lateral direction, i.e., COPx, during the gait cycle. The data for the COPx were used to design a gait cycle estimation method applicable to patients with gait disorders. A polar gaitogram was drawn using the gait cycle and COPx data. The difference between the areas inside the two closed curves in the polar gaitogram, area ratio index (ARI), and the slope of the tangential line common to the two closed curves were proposed as gait analysis indices. An experimental study was conducted to verify that these two indices can be used to differentiate between stroke patients and healthy adults. The findings indicated the potential of using the proposed polar gaitogram and indices to develop and apply wearable devices to assess gait disorders.
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Yang C, Yu L, Xu L, Yan Z, Hu D, Zhang S, Yang W. Current developments of robotic hip exoskeleton toward sensing, decision, and actuation: A review. WEARABLE TECHNOLOGIES 2022; 3:e15. [PMID: 38486916 PMCID: PMC10936331 DOI: 10.1017/wtc.2022.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The aging population is now a global challenge, and impaired walking ability is a common feature in the elderly. In addition, some occupations such as military and relief workers require extra physical help to perform tasks efficiently. Robotic hip exoskeletons can support ambulatory functions in the elderly and augment human performance in healthy people during normal walking and loaded walking by providing assistive torque. In this review, the current development of robotic hip exoskeletons is presented. In addition, the framework of actuation joints and the high-level control strategy (including the sensors and data collection, the way to recognize gait phase, the algorithms to generate the assist torque) are described. The exoskeleton prototypes proposed by researchers in recent years are organized to benefit the related fields realizing the limitations of the available robotic hip exoskeletons, therefore, this work tends to be an influential factor with a better understanding of the development and state-of-the-art technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canjun Yang
- Ningbo Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- School of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo, China
| | - Linfan Yu
- Ningbo Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Linghui Xu
- Ningbo Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zehao Yan
- Ningbo Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dongming Hu
- School of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Ningbo Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Ningbo Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- School of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, NingboTech University, Ningbo, China
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Shushtari M, Dinovitzer H, Weng J, Arami A. Accurate Real-time Phase Estimation for Normal and Asymmetric Gait. IEEE Int Conf Rehabil Robot 2022; 2022:1-6. [PMID: 36176079 DOI: 10.1109/icorr55369.2022.9896410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
An accurate real-time gait phase estimator for normal and asymmetric gait is developed by training and testing a time-delay neural network on gait data collected from six participants during treadmill walking. The trained model can generate smooth and highly accurate predictions of the gait phase with a root mean square error of less than 3.48% and 4.31% in normal and asymmetric gait, respectively. The coefficient of determination between the estimated and target phase is greater than 99% for all subjects with both normal and asymmetric gait. The proposed gait estimator also exhibits precise heel-strike event detection with an RMSE of 2.56% and 3.70% in normal and asymmetric gait, respectively. A spatial impedance controller is then employed and tested based on the estimated gait phase of a new participant. Obtained results confirm that the controller provided assistance in coordination with the user's motion both in normal and asymmetric gait conditions. The estimated gait phase is compared in the case of walking without and with the exoskeleton in passive and active modes, indicating persistent accuracy of the gait phase estimator regardless of the walking conditions.
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12
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Reducing the energy cost of walking with low assistance levels through optimized hip flexion assistance from a soft exosuit. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11004. [PMID: 35768486 PMCID: PMC9243082 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14784-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
As we age, humans see natural decreases in muscle force and power which leads to a slower, less efficient gait. Improving mobility for both healthy individuals and those with muscle impairments/weakness has been a goal for exoskeleton designers for decades. In this work, we discover that significant reductions in the energy cost required for walking can be achieved with almost 50% less mechanical power compared to the state of the art. This was achieved by leveraging human-in-the-loop optimization to understand the importance of individualized assistance for hip flexion, a relatively unexplored joint motion. Specifically, we show that a tethered hip flexion exosuit can reduce the metabolic rate of walking by up to 15.2 ± 2.6%, compared to locomotion with assistance turned off (equivalent to 14.8% reduction compared to not wearing the exosuit). This large metabolic reduction was achieved with surprisingly low assistance magnitudes (average of 89 N, ~ 24% of normal hip flexion torque). Furthermore, the ratio of metabolic reduction to the positive exosuit power delivered was 1.8 times higher than ratios previously found for hip extension and ankle plantarflexion. These findings motivated the design of a lightweight (2.31 kg) and portable hip flexion assisting exosuit, that demonstrated a 7.2 ± 2.9% metabolic reduction compared to walking without the exosuit. The high ratio of metabolic reduction to exosuit power measured in this study supports previous simulation findings and provides compelling evidence that hip flexion may be an efficient joint motion to target when considering how to create practical and lightweight wearable robots to support improved mobility.
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13
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Park JH, Lee Y, Madinei S, Kim S, Nussbaum MA, Srinivasan D. Effects of Back-Support Exoskeleton Use on Lower Limb Joint Kinematics and Kinetics During Level Walking. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:964-977. [PMID: 35478066 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-02973-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We assessed the effects of using a passive back-support exoskeleton (BSE) on lower limb joint kinematics and kinetics during level walking. Twenty young, healthy participants completed level walking trials while wearing a BSE (backXTM) with three different levels of hip-extension support torque (i.e., no torque, low, and high) and in a control condition (no-BSE). When hip extension torques were required for gait-initial 0-10% and final 75-100% of the gait cycle-the BSE with high supportive torque provided ~ 10 Nm of external hip extension torque at each hip, resulting in beneficial changes in participants' gait patterns. Specifically, there was a ~ 10% reduction in muscle-generated hip extension torque and ~ 15-20% reduction in extensor power. During the stance-swing transition, however, BSE use produced undesirable changes in lower limb kinematics (e.g., 5-20% increase in ankle joint velocity) and kinetics (e.g., ~ 10% increase in hip flexor, knee extensor, and ankle plantarflexor powers). These latter changes likely stemmed from the need to increase mechanical energy for propelling the leg into the swing phase. BSE use may thus increase the metabolic cost of walking. Whether such use also leads to muscle fatigue and/or postural instability in long-distance walking needs to be confirmed in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jang-Ho Park
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University, Freeman Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Youngjae Lee
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | | | - Sunwook Kim
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Maury A Nussbaum
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Divya Srinivasan
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University, Freeman Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.
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15
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Choi W, Yang W, Na J, Park J, Lee G, Nam W. Unsupervised gait phase estimation with domain-adversarial neural network and adaptive window. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2021; 26:3373-3384. [PMID: 34941536 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2021.3137413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The performance of previous machine learning models for gait phase is only satisfactory under limited conditions. First, they produce accurate estimations only when the ground truth of the gait phase (of the target subject) is known. In contrast, when the ground truth of a target subject is not used to train an algorithm, the estimation error noticeably increases. Expensive equipment is required to precisely measure the ground truth of the gait phase. Thus, previous methods have practical shortcoming when they are optimized for individual users. To address this problem, this study introduces an unsupervised domain adaptation technique for estimation without the true gait phase of the target subject. Specifically, a domain-adversarial neural network was modified to perform regression on continuous gait phases. Second, the accuracy of previous models can be degraded by variations in stride time. To address this problem, this study developed an adaptive window method that actively considers changes in stride time. This model considerably reduces estimation errors for walking and running motions. Finally, this study proposed a new method to select the optimal source subject (among several subjects) by defining the similarity between sequential embedding features.
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Cheng L, Xiong C, Chen W, Liang J, Huang B, Xu X. A portable exotendon assisting hip and knee joints reduces muscular burden during walking. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:211266. [PMID: 34737881 PMCID: PMC8564609 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Assistive devices are used to reduce human effort during locomotion with increasing success. More assistance strategies are worth exploring, so we aimed to design a lightweight biarticular device with well-chosen parameters to reduce muscle effort. Based on the experience of previous success, we designed an exotendon to assist in swing leg deceleration. Then we conducted experiments to test the performance of the exotendon with different spring stiffness during walking. With the assistance of the exotendon, peak activation of semitendinosus decreased, with the largest reduction of 12.3% achieved with the highest spring stiffness (p = 0.004). The peak activations of other measured muscles were not significantly different (p = 0.15-0.92). The biological hip extension and knee flexion moments likewise significantly decreased with the spring stiffness (p < 0.01). The joint angle was altered during the assisted phases with decreased hip flexion and knee extension. Meanwhile, the step frequency and the step length were also altered, while the step width remained unaffected. Gait variability changed only in the frontal plane, exhibiting lower step width variability. We conclude that passive devices assisting hip extension and knee flexion can significantly reduce the burden on the hamstring muscles, while the kinematics is easily altered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Cheng
- Institute of Rehabilitation and Medical Robotics, State Key Lab of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Caihua Xiong
- Institute of Rehabilitation and Medical Robotics, State Key Lab of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbin Chen
- Institute of Rehabilitation and Medical Robotics, State Key Lab of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiejunyi Liang
- Institute of Rehabilitation and Medical Robotics, State Key Lab of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Huang
- Institute of Rehabilitation and Medical Robotics, State Key Lab of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowei Xu
- Institute of Rehabilitation and Medical Robotics, State Key Lab of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
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Kang I, Molinaro DD, Duggal S, Chen Y, Kunapuli P, Young AJ. Real-Time Gait Phase Estimation for Robotic Hip Exoskeleton Control During Multimodal Locomotion. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2021; 6:3491-3497. [PMID: 34616899 DOI: 10.1109/lra.2021.3062562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We developed and validated a gait phase estimator for real-time control of a robotic hip exoskeleton during multimodal locomotion. Gait phase describes the fraction of time passed since the previous gait event, such as heel strike, and is a promising framework for appropriately applying exoskeleton assistance during cyclic tasks. A conventional method utilizes a mechanical sensor to detect a gait event and uses the time since the last gait event to linearly interpolate the current gait phase. While this approach may work well for constant treadmill walking, it shows poor performance when translated to overground situations where the user may change walking speed and locomotion modes dynamically. To tackle these challenges, we utilized a convolutional neural network-based gait phase estimator that can adapt to different locomotion mode settings to modulate the exoskeleton assistance. Our resulting model accurately predicted the gait phase during multimodal locomotion without any additional information about the user's locomotion mode, with a gait phase estimation RMSE of 5.04 ± 0.79%, significantly outperforming the literature standard (p < 0.05). Our study highlights the promise of translating exoskeleton technology to more realistic settings where the user can naturally and seamlessly navigate through different terrain settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inseung Kang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332 USA
| | - Dean D Molinaro
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332 USA.,Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332 USA
| | - Srijan Duggal
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332 USA
| | - Yanrong Chen
- School of Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332 USA
| | - Pratik Kunapuli
- GRASP Lab, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104 USA
| | - Aaron J Young
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332 USA.,Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332 USA
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Abstract
Smart walkers have been developed for assistance and rehabilitation of elderly people and patients with physical health conditions. A force sensor mounted under the handle is widely used in smart walkers to establish a human–machine interface. The interaction force can be used to control the walker and estimate gait parameters using methods such as the Kalman filter for real-time estimation. However, the estimation performance decreases when the peaks of the interaction force are not captured. To improve the stability and accuracy of gait parameter estimation, we propose an online estimation method to continuously estimate the gait phase and cadence. A multiple model switching mechanism is introduced to improve the estimation performance when gait is asymmetric, and an adaptive rule is proposed to improve the estimation robustness and accuracy. Simulations and experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed gait parameter estimation method. Here, the average estimation error for the gait phase is 0.691 rad when the gait is symmetric and 0.722 rad when it is asymmetric.
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Review of control strategies for lower-limb exoskeletons to assist gait. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2021; 18:119. [PMID: 34315499 PMCID: PMC8314580 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-021-00906-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many lower-limb exoskeletons have been developed to assist gait, exhibiting a large range of control methods. The goal of this paper is to review and classify these control strategies, that determine how these devices interact with the user. Methods In addition to covering the recent publications on the control of lower-limb exoskeletons for gait assistance, an effort has been made to review the controllers independently of the hardware and implementation aspects. The common 3-level structure (high, middle, and low levels) is first used to separate the continuous behavior (mid-level) from the implementation of position/torque control (low-level) and the detection of the terrain or user’s intention (high-level). Within these levels, different approaches (functional units) have been identified and combined to describe each considered controller. Results 291 references have been considered and sorted by the proposed classification. The methods identified in the high-level are manual user input, brain interfaces, or automatic mode detection based on the terrain or user’s movements. In the mid-level, the synchronization is most often based on manual triggers by the user, discrete events (followed by state machines or time-based progression), or continuous estimations using state variables. The desired action is determined based on position/torque profiles, model-based calculations, or other custom functions of the sensory signals. In the low-level, position or torque controllers are used to carry out the desired actions. In addition to a more detailed description of these methods, the variants of implementation within each one are also compared and discussed in the paper. Conclusions By listing and comparing the features of the reviewed controllers, this work can help in understanding the numerous techniques found in the literature. The main identified trends are the use of pre-defined trajectories for full-mobilization and event-triggered (or adaptive-frequency-oscillator-synchronized) torque profiles for partial assistance. More recently, advanced methods to adapt the position/torque profiles online and automatically detect terrains or locomotion modes have become more common, but these are largely still limited to laboratory settings. An analysis of the possible underlying reasons of the identified trends is also carried out and opportunities for further studies are discussed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12984-021-00906-3.
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Biomechanical Assessment of Adapting Trajectory and Human-Robot Interaction Stiffness in Impedance-Controlled Ankle Orthosis. J INTELL ROBOT SYST 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10846-021-01423-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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21
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Neuman RM, Shearin SM, McCain KJ, Fey NP. Biomechanical analysis of an unpowered hip flexion orthosis on individuals with and without multiple sclerosis. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2021; 18:104. [PMID: 34176484 PMCID: PMC8237473 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-021-00891-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gait impairment is a common complication of multiple sclerosis (MS). Gait limitations such as limited hip flexion, foot drop, and knee hyperextension often require external devices like crutches, canes, and orthoses. The effects of mobility-assistive technologies (MATs) prescribed to people with MS are not well understood, and current devices do not cater to the specific needs of these individuals. To address this, a passive unilateral hip flexion-assisting orthosis (HFO) was developed that uses resistance bands spanning the hip joint to redirect energy in the gait cycle. The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of the HFO on gait mechanics and muscle activation for people with and without MS. We hypothesized that (1) hip flexion would increase in the limb wearing the device, and (2) that muscle activity would increase in hip extensors, and decrease in hip flexors and plantar flexors. METHODS Five healthy subjects and five subjects with MS walked for minute-long sessions with the device using three different levels of band stiffness. We analyzed peak hip flexion and extension angles, lower limb joint work, and muscle activity in eight muscles on the lower limbs and trunk. Single-subjects analysis was used due to inter-subject variability. RESULTS For subjects with MS, the HFO caused an increase in peak hip flexion angle and a decrease in peak hip extension angle, confirming our first hypothesis. Healthy subjects showed less pronounced kinematic changes when using the device. Power generated at the hip was increased in most subjects while using the HFO. The second hypothesis was not confirmed, as muscle activity showed inconsistent results, however several subjects demonstrated increased hip extensor and trunk muscle activity with the HFO. CONCLUSIONS This exploratory study showed that the HFO was well-tolerated by healthy subjects and subjects with MS, and that it promoted more normative kinematics at the hip for those with MS. Future studies with longer exposure to the HFO and personalized assistance parameters are needed to understand the efficacy of the HFO for mobility assistance and rehabilitation for people with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross M. Neuman
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 204 E Dean Keeton St, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Staci M. Shearin
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Karen J. McCain
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Nicholas P. Fey
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 204 E Dean Keeton St, Austin, TX 78712 USA
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
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22
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Pinto-Fernandez D, Torricelli D, Sanchez-Villamanan MDC, Aller F, Mombaur K, Conti R, Vitiello N, Moreno JC, Pons JL. Performance Evaluation of Lower Limb Exoskeletons: A Systematic Review. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2021; 28:1573-1583. [PMID: 32634096 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2020.2989481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Benchmarks have long been used to verify and compare the readiness level of different technologies in many application domains. In the field of wearable robots, the lack of a recognized benchmarking methodology is one important impediment that may hamper the efficient translation of research prototypes into actual products. At the same time, an exponentially growing number of research studies are addressing the problem of quantifying the performance of robotic exoskeletons, resulting in a rich and highly heterogeneous picture of methods, variables and protocols. This review aims to organize this information, and identify the most promising performance indicators that can be converted into practical benchmarks. We focus our analysis on lower limb functions, including a wide spectrum of motor skills and performance indicators. We found that, in general, the evaluation of lower limb exoskeletons is still largely focused on straight walking, with poor coverage of most of the basic motor skills that make up the activities of daily life. Our analysis also reveals a clear bias towards generic kinematics and kinetic indicators, in spite of the metrics of human-robot interaction. Based on these results, we identify and discuss a number of promising research directions that may help the community to attain a comprehensive benchmarking methodology for robot-assisted locomotion more efficiently.
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Locomotion Mode Recognition with Inertial Signals for Hip Joint Exoskeleton. Appl Bionics Biomech 2021; 2021:6673018. [PMID: 34335872 PMCID: PMC8289602 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6673018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recognizing locomotion modes is a crucial step in controlling lower-limb exoskeletons/orthoses. Our study proposed a fuzzy-logic-based locomotion mode/transition recognition approach that uses the onrobot inertial sensors for a hip joint exoskeleton (active pelvic orthosis). The method outputs the recognition decisions at each extreme point of the hip joint angles purely relying on the integrated inertial sensors. Compared with the related studies, our approach enables calibrations and recognition without additional sensors on the feet. We validated the method by measuring four locomotion modes and eight locomotion transitions on three able-bodied subjects wearing an active pelvic orthosis (APO). The average recognition accuracy was 92.46% for intrasubject crossvalidation and 93.16% for intersubject crossvalidation. The average time delay during the transitions was 1897.9 ms (28.95% one gait cycle). The results were at the same level as the related studies. On the other side, the study is limited in the small sample size of the subjects, and the results are preliminary. Future efforts will be paid on more extensive evaluations in practical applications.
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Lee D, Kang I, Molinaro DD, Yu A, Young AJ. Real-Time User-Independent Slope Prediction Using Deep Learning for Modulation of Robotic Knee Exoskeleton Assistance. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2021.3066973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Zhou T, Xiong C, Zhang J, Chen W, Huang X. Regulating Metabolic Energy Among Joints During Human Walking Using a Multiarticular Unpowered Exoskeleton. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2021; 29:662-672. [PMID: 33690121 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2021.3065389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Researchers have found that the walking economy can be enhanced by recycling ankle metabolic energy using an unpowered ankle exoskeleton. However, how to regulate multiarticular energy to enhance the overall energy efficiency of humans during walking remains a challenging problem, as multiarticular passive assistance is more likely to interfere with the human body's natural biomechanics. Here we show that the metabolic energy of the hip and knee musculature can be regulated to a more energy-effective direction using a multiarticular unpowered exoskeleton that recycles negative mechanical energy of the knee joint in the late swing phase and transfers the stored energy to assist the hip extensors in performing positive mechanical work in the stance phase. The biarticular spring-clutch mechanism of the exoskeleton performs a complementary energy recycling and energy transfer function for hip and knee musculature. Through the phased regulation of the hip and knee metabolic energy, the target muscle activities decreased during the whole assistive period of the exoskeleton, which was the direct reason for 8.6 ± 1.5% (mean ± s.e.m) reduction in metabolic rate compared with that of walking without the exoskeleton. The proposed unpowered exoskeleton enhanced the user's multiarticular energy efficiency, which equals improving musculoskeletal structure by adding a complementary loop for efficient energy recycling and energy transfer.
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26
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McGibbon CA, Brandon S, Bishop EL, Cowper-Smith C, Biden EN. Biomechanical Study of a Tricompartmental Unloader Brace for Patellofemoral or Multicompartment Knee Osteoarthritis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 8:604860. [PMID: 33585409 PMCID: PMC7876241 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.604860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Off-loader knee braces have traditionally focused on redistributing loads away from either the medial or lateral tibiofemoral (TF) compartments. In this article, we study the potential of a novel "tricompartment unloader" (TCU) knee brace intended to simultaneously unload both the patellofemoral (PF) and TF joints during knee flexion. Three different models of the TCU brace are evaluated for their potential to unload the knee joint. Methods: A sagittal plane model of the knee was used to compute PF and TF contact forces, patellar and quadriceps tendon forces, and forces in the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments during a deep knee bend (DKB) test using motion analysis data from eight participants. Forces were computed for the observed (no brace) and simulated braced conditions. A sensitivity and validity analysis was conducted to determine the valid output range for the model, and Statistical Parameter Mapping was used to quantify the effectual region of the different TCU brace models. Results: PF and TF joint force calculations were valid between ~0 and 100 degrees of flexion. All three simulated brace models significantly (p < 0.001) reduced predicted knee joint loads (by 30-50%) across all structures, at knee flexion angles >~30 degrees during DKB. Conclusions: The TCU brace is predicted to reduce PF and TF knee joint contact loads during weight-bearing activity requiring knee flexion angles between 30 and 100 degrees; this effect may be clinically beneficial for pain reduction or rehabilitation from common knee injuries or joint disorders. Future work is needed to assess the range of possible clinical and prophylactic benefits of the TCU brace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris A McGibbon
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
| | - Scott Brandon
- School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Emily L Bishop
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Edmund N Biden
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
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27
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Livolsi C, Conti R, Giovacchini F, Vitiello N, Crea S. A Novel Wavelet-Based Gait Segmentation Method for a Portable hip Exoskeleton. IEEE T ROBOT 2021. [DOI: 10.1109/tro.2021.3122975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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28
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Kuboki Y, Akiyama Y, Okamoto S, Yamada Y. The influence of hip joint rotation of a physical assistant robot on curving motion. Adv Robot 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/01691864.2020.1857304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Kuboki
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Akiyama
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shogo Okamoto
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoji Yamada
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
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29
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Mohammadzadeh Gonabadi A, Antonellis P, Malcolm P. Differences between joint-space and musculoskeletal estimations of metabolic rate time profiles. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1008280. [PMID: 33112850 PMCID: PMC7592801 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Motion capture laboratories can measure multiple variables at high frame rates, but we can only measure the average metabolic rate of a stride using respiratory measurements. Biomechanical simulations with equations for calculating metabolic rate can estimate the time profile of metabolic rate within the stride cycle. A variety of methods and metabolic equations have been proposed, including metabolic time profile estimations based on joint parameters. It is unclear whether differences in estimations are due to differences in experimental data or due to methodological differences. This study aimed to compare two methods for estimating the time profile of metabolic rate, within a single dataset. Knowledge about the consistency of different methods could be useful for applications such as detecting which part of the gait cycle causes increased metabolic cost in patients. Here we compare estimations of metabolic rate time profiles using a musculoskeletal and a joint-space method. The musculoskeletal method was driven by kinematics and electromyography data and used muscle metabolic rate equations, whereas the joint-space method used metabolic rate equations based on joint parameters. Both estimations of changes in stride average metabolic rate correlated significantly with large changes in indirect calorimetry from walking on different grades showing that both methods accurately track changes. However, estimations of changes in stride average metabolic rate did not correlate significantly with more subtle changes in indirect calorimetry due to walking with different shoe inclinations, and both the musculoskeletal and joint-space time profile estimations did not correlate significantly with each other except in the most downward shoe inclination. Estimations of the relative cost of stance and swing matched well with previous simulations with similar methods and estimations from experimental perturbations. Rich experimental datasets could further advance time profile estimations. This knowledge could be useful to develop therapies and assistive devices that target the least metabolically economic part of the gait cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Mohammadzadeh Gonabadi
- Department of Biomechanics and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- Rehabilitation Engineering Center, Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AMG); (PM)
| | - Prokopios Antonellis
- Department of Biomechanics and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Philippe Malcolm
- Department of Biomechanics and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AMG); (PM)
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Dollahon D, Ryu SC, Park H. A Computational Internal Model to Quantify the Effect of Sensorimotor Augmentation on Motor Output. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2020:3751-3754. [PMID: 33018817 DOI: 10.1109/embc44109.2020.9176109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The aging process, as well as neurological disorders, causes a decline in sensorimotor functions, which can often bring degraded motor output. As a means of compensation for such sensorimotor deficiencies, sensorimotor augmentation has been actively investigated. Consequently, exoskeleton devices or functional electrical stimulation could augment the muscle activity, while textured surfaces or electrical nerve stimulations could augment the sensory feedback. However, it is not easy to precisely anticipate the effects of specific augmentation because sensory feedback and motor output interact with each other as a closed-loop operation via the central and peripheral nervous systems. A computational internal model can play a crucial role in anticipating such an effect of augmentation therapy on the motor outcome. Still, no existing internal sensorimotor loop model has been represented in a complete computational form facilitating the anticipation. This paper presents such a computational internal model, including numerical values representing the effect of sensorimotor augmentation. With the existing experimental results, the model performance was evaluated indirectly. The change of sensory gain affects motor output inversely, while the change of motor gain did not change or minimally affects the motor output.Clinical Relevance- The presented computational internal model will provide a simple and easy tool for clinicians to design therapeutic intervention using sensorimotor augmentation.
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31
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Nuckols RW, Takahashi KZ, Farris DJ, Mizrachi S, Riemer R, Sawicki GS. Mechanics of walking and running up and downhill: A joint-level perspective to guide design of lower-limb exoskeletons. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231996. [PMID: 32857774 PMCID: PMC7454943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Lower-limb wearable robotic devices can improve clinical gait and reduce energetic demand in healthy populations. To help enable real-world use, we sought to examine how assistance should be applied in variable gait conditions and suggest an approach derived from knowledge of human locomotion mechanics to establish a 'roadmap' for wearable robot design. We characterized the changes in joint mechanics during walking and running across a range of incline/decline grades and then provide an analysis that informs the development of lower-limb exoskeletons capable of operating across a range of mechanical demands. We hypothesized that the distribution of limb-joint positive mechanical power would shift to the hip for incline walking and running and that the distribution of limb-joint negative mechanical power would shift to the knee for decline walking and running. Eight subjects (6M,2F) completed five walking (1.25 m s-1) trials at -8.53°, -5.71°, 0°, 5.71°, and 8.53° grade and five running (2.25 m s-1) trials at -5.71°, -2.86°, 0°, 2.86°, and 5.71° grade on a treadmill. We calculated time-varying joint moment and power output for the ankle, knee, and hip. For each gait, we examined how individual limb-joints contributed to total limb positive, negative and net power across grades. For both walking and running, changes in grade caused a redistribution of joint mechanical power generation and absorption. From level to incline walking, the ankle's contribution to limb positive power decreased from 44% on the level to 28% at 8.53° uphill grade (p < 0.0001) while the hip's contribution increased from 27% to 52% (p < 0.0001). In running, regardless of the surface gradient, the ankle was consistently the dominant source of lower-limb positive mechanical power (47-55%). In the context of our results, we outline three distinct use-modes that could be emphasized in future lower-limb exoskeleton designs 1) Energy injection: adding positive work into the gait cycle, 2) Energy extraction: removing negative work from the gait cycle, and 3) Energy transfer: extracting energy in one gait phase and then injecting it in another phase (i.e., regenerative braking).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard W. Nuckols
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University and Wyss Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kota Z. Takahashi
- Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Dominic J. Farris
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Sarai Mizrachi
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Raziel Riemer
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Gregory S. Sawicki
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Development of Active Lower Limb Robotic-Based Orthosis and Exoskeleton Devices: A Systematic Review. Int J Soc Robot 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12369-020-00662-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Ishmael MK, Tran M, Lenzi T. ExoProsthetics: Assisting Above-Knee Amputees with a Lightweight Powered Hip Exoskeleton. IEEE Int Conf Rehabil Robot 2020; 2019:925-930. [PMID: 31374748 DOI: 10.1109/icorr.2019.8779412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we explore the effect of residual hip assistance in one above-knee amputee subject using a novel lightweight powered hip exoskeleton. Differently from a powered prosthesis, a powered hip exoskeleton adds mass proximally. Thus, we expect that the negative effect of the added mass will be lower for a powered hip exoskeleton than a powered ankle and knee prosthesis. Consequently, residual-hip assistance may more easily lead to a net reduction of metabolic effort. To preliminarily assess this hypothesis, we measured the physiological cost index (PCI) while an above-knee subject walked with and without a powered hip exoskeleton. Experimental results show 20.5% reduction of PCI when walking with the powered hip exoskeleton.
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Abstract
SUMMARYAgainst the backdrop of accelerated ageing around the globe, an increasing number of individuals suffer from hip motion disability and gait disorders. In this paper, the performance analysis of a novel parallel assistive mechanism with 2 DOF for hip adduction/abduction (AB/AD) and flexion/extension (FL/EX) assistance is completed and evaluated, particularly the velocity and force transfer features. The analysis shows that the assistive mechanism has advantages of fine motion assistive isotropy, high force transfer ratio and large force isotropic radius, which indicates that the parallel assistive mechanism is suitable for hip AB/AD and FL/EX assistance.
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Chen B, Zi B, Qin L, Pan Q. State-of-the-art research in robotic hip exoskeletons: A general review. J Orthop Translat 2019; 20:4-13. [PMID: 31908928 PMCID: PMC6939102 DOI: 10.1016/j.jot.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ageing population is now a global challenge, where physical deterioration is the common feature in elderly people. In addition, the diseases, such as spinal cord injury, stroke, and injury, could cause a partial or total loss of the ability of human locomotion. Thus, assistance is necessary for them to perform safe activities of daily living. Robotic hip exoskeletons are able to support ambulatory functions in elderly people and provide rehabilitation for the patients with gait impairments. They can also augment human performance during normal walking, loaded walking, and manual handling of heavy-duty tasks by providing assistive force/torque. In this article, a systematic review of robotic hip exoskeletons is presented, where biomechanics of the human hip joint, pathological gait pattern, and common approaches to the design of robotic hip exoskeletons are described. Finally, limitations of the available robotic hip exoskeletons and their possible future directions are discussed, which could serve a useful reference for the engineers and researchers to develop robotic hip exoskeletons with practical and plausible applications in geriatric orthopaedics. The translational potential of this article The past decade has witnessed a remarkable progress in research and development of robotic hip exoskeletons. Our aim is to summarize recent developments of robotic hip exoskeletons for the engineers, clinician scientists and rehabilitation personnel to develop efficient robotic hip exoskeletons for practical and plausible applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Mine Mechanical and Electrical Equipment, China University of Mining and Technology, China
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bin Zi
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
- Corresponding author. Hefei University of Technology, Room 301, Gewu Building, Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230009, China.
| | - Ling Qin
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qiaosheng Pan
- School of Instrument Science and Opto-Electronics Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
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Jabeen S, Berry A, Geijtenbeek T, Harlaar J, Vallery H. Assisting gait with free moments or joint moments on the swing leg. IEEE Int Conf Rehabil Robot 2019; 2019:1079-1084. [PMID: 31374773 DOI: 10.1109/icorr.2019.8779389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Wearable actuators in lower-extremity active orthoses or prostheses have the potential to address a variety of gait disorders. However, whenever conventional joint actuators exert moments on specific limbs, they must simultaneously impose opposing reaction moments on other limbs, which may reduce the desired effects and perturb posture. Momentum exchange actuators exert free moments on individual limbs, potentially overcoming or mitigating these issues.We simulate unperturbed gait to compare conventional joint actuators placed on the knee or hip of the swing leg, and equivalent angular momentum exchange actuators placed on the shank or thigh. Our results indicate that, while conventional joint actuators excel at increasing toe clearance when assisting knee flexion, free moments can yield greater increases in stride length when assisting knee extension or hip flexion.
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Kang I, Hsu H, Young A. The Effect of Hip Assistance Levels on Human Energetic Cost Using Robotic Hip Exoskeletons. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2019. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2019.2890896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Chen W, Wu S, Zhou T, Xiong C. On the biological mechanics and energetics of the hip joint muscle-tendon system assisted by passive hip exoskeleton. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2018; 14:016012. [PMID: 30511650 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/aaeefd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Passive exoskeletons have potential advantages in reducing metabolic energy cost. We consider a passive elastic exoskeleton (peEXO) providing hip flexion moment to assist hip flexors during walking, our goal is to use a biomechanical model to explore the biological mechanics and energetics of the hip joint muscle-tendon-exotendon system for obtaining the optimum stiffness of this peEXO at the muscle-level. Based on our developed hip musculoskeletal model capable of replicating human-like behaviors, the hip peEXO is firstly abstracted as a spring (i.e. exotendon), we then simulate the peEXO assisted human walking over a series of stiffnesses, the biological muscle-tendon dynamics is optimally solved by minimizing the total metabolic cost of muscles. The simulation results are consistent with the experimental data of walking with an exoskeleton prototype. We find peEXO of minor stiffness helps reducing the muscle force, activation, and metabolic energy cost of hip flexors, especially the iliopsoas; while stiffer peEXO causes extra metabolic energy cost of antagonist muscles especially the gluteus maximus. With an optimum rotational stiffness of 350 Nm rad-1, the peEXO can reduce the metabolic energy cost of walking by ~7.1% and the hip joint muscles simultaneously have a 3% muscle efficiency promotion. The changes in muscle-tendon dynamics indicate it is more economical to assist the hip joint compared with the ankle joint, and periods of high muscle activation are ideal assistance phases for hip joint muscles. The modeling framework provides deep insights into the potential muscle-level mechanisms which are difficult to study via experiments alone, which is helpful to recover the mechanism of how energy cost is reduced under the external passive assistance and guide the design of passive hip EXOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
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Smith AJJ, Lemaire ED, Nantel J. Lower limb sagittal kinematic and kinetic modeling of very slow walking for gait trajectory scaling. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203934. [PMID: 30222772 PMCID: PMC6141077 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Lower extremity powered exoskeletons (LEPE) are an emerging technology that assists people with lower-limb paralysis. LEPE for people with complete spinal cord injury walk at very slow speeds, below 0.5m/s. For the able-bodied population, very slow walking uses different neuromuscular, locomotor, postural, and dynamic balance control. Speed dependent kinetic and kinematic regression equations in the literature could be used for very slow walking LEPE trajectory scaling; however, kinematic and kinetic information at walking speeds below 0.5 m/s is lacking. Scaling LEPE trajectories using current reference equations may be inaccurate because these equations were produced from faster than real-world LEPE walking speeds. An improved understanding of how able-bodied people biomechanically adapt to very slow walking will provide LEPE developers with more accurate models to predict and scale LEPE gait trajectories. Full body motion capture data were collected from 30 healthy adults while walking on an instrumented self-paced treadmill, within a CAREN-Extended virtual reality environment. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected for 0.2 m/s-0.8 m/s, and self-selected walking speed. Thirty-three common sagittal kinematic and kinetic gait parameters were identified from motion capture data and inverse dynamics. Gait parameter relationships to walking speed, cadence, and stride length were determined with linear and quadratic (second and third order) regression. For parameters with a non-linear relationship with speed, cadence, or stride-length, linear regressions were used to determine if a consistent inflection occurred for faster and slower walking speeds. Group mean equations were applied to each participant's data to determine the best performing equations for calculating important peak sagittal kinematic and kinetic gait parameters. Quadratic models based on walking speed had the strongest correlations with sagittal kinematic and kinetic gait parameters, with kinetic parameters having the better results. The lack of a consistent inflection point indicated that the kinematic and kinetic gait strategies did not change at very slow gait speeds. This research showed stronger associations with speed and gait parameters then previous studies, and provided more accurate regression equations for gait parameters at very slow walking speeds that can be used for LEPE joint trajectory development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. J. Smith
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- University of Ottawa, Department of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Edward D. Lemaire
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Julie Nantel
- University of Ottawa, Department of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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Gordon DFN, Henderson G, Vijayakumar S. Effectively Quantifying the Performance of Lower-Limb Exoskeletons Over a Range of Walking Conditions. Front Robot AI 2018; 5:61. [PMID: 33644121 PMCID: PMC7904313 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2018.00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exoskeletons and other wearable robotic devices have a wide range of potential applications, including assisting patients with walking pathologies, acting as tools for rehabilitation, and enhancing the capabilities of healthy humans. However, applying these devices effectively in a real-world setting can be challenging, as the optimal design features and control commands for an exoskeleton are highly dependent on the current user, task and environment. Consequently, robust metrics and methods for quantifying exoskeleton performance are required. This work presents an analysis of walking data collected for healthy subjects walking with an active pelvis exoskeleton over three assistance scenarios and five walking contexts. Spatial and temporal, kinematic, kinetic and other novel dynamic gait metrics were compared to identify which metrics exhibit desirable invariance properties, and so are good candidates for use as a stability metric over varying walking conditions. Additionally, using a model-based approach, the average metabolic power consumption was calculated for a subset of muscles crossing the hip, knee and ankle joints, and used to analyse how the energy-reducing properties of an exoskeleton are affected by changes in walking context. The results demonstrated that medio-lateral centre of pressure displacement and medio-lateral margin of stability exhibit strong invariance to changes in walking conditions. This suggests that these dynamic gait metrics are optimised in human gait and are potentially suitable metrics for optimising in an exoskeleton control paradigm. The effectiveness of the exoskeleton at reducing human energy expenditure was observed to increase when walking on an incline, where muscles aiding in hip flexion were assisted, but decrease when walking at a slow speed. These results underline the need for adaptive control algorithms for exoskeletons if they are to be used in varied environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F. N. Gordon
- Institute of Perception, Action, and Behaviour, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Henderson
- Institute of Perception, Action, and Behaviour, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sethu Vijayakumar
- Institute of Perception, Action, and Behaviour, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Koller JR, Remy CD, Ferris DP. Biomechanics and energetics of walking in powered ankle exoskeletons using myoelectric control versus mechanically intrinsic control. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2018; 15:42. [PMID: 29801451 PMCID: PMC5970476 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-018-0379-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Controllers for assistive robotic devices can be divided into two main categories: controllers using neural signals and controllers using mechanically intrinsic signals. Both approaches are prevalent in research devices, but a direct comparison between the two could provide insight into their relative advantages and disadvantages. We studied subjects walking with robotic ankle exoskeletons using two different control modes: dynamic gain proportional myoelectric control based on soleus muscle activity (neural signal), and timing-based mechanically intrinsic control based on gait events (mechanically intrinsic signal). We hypothesized that subjects would have different measures of metabolic work rate between the two controllers as we predicted subjects would use each controller in a unique manner due to one being dependent on muscle recruitment and the other not. METHODS The two controllers had the same average actuation signal as we used the control signals from walking with the myoelectric controller to shape the mechanically intrinsic control signal. The difference being the myoelectric controller allowed step-to-step variation in the actuation signals controlled by the user's soleus muscle recruitment while the timing-based controller had the same actuation signal with each step regardless of muscle recruitment. RESULTS We observed no statistically significant difference in metabolic work rate between the two controllers. Subjects walked with 11% less soleus activity during mid and late stance and significantly less peak soleus recruitment when using the timing-based controller than when using the myoelectric controller. While walking with the myoelectric controller, subjects walked with significantly higher average positive and negative total ankle power compared to walking with the timing-based controller. CONCLUSIONS We interpret the reduced ankle power and muscle activity with the timing-based controller relative to the myoelectric controller to result from greater slacking effects. Subjects were able to be less engaged on a muscle level when using a controller driven by mechanically intrinsic signals than when using a controller driven by neural signals, but this had no affect on their metabolic work rate. These results suggest that the type of controller (neural vs. mechanical) is likely to affect how individuals use robotic exoskeletons for therapeutic rehabilitation or human performance augmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R. Koller
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2350 Hayward, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109 USA
| | - C. David Remy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2350 Hayward, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109 USA
| | - Daniel P. Ferris
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611 USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32611 USA
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Grazi L, Crea S, Parri A, Molino Lova R, Micera S, Vitiello N. Gastrocnemius Myoelectric Control of a Robotic Hip Exoskeleton Can Reduce the User's Lower-Limb Muscle Activities at Push Off. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:71. [PMID: 29491830 PMCID: PMC5817084 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a novel assistive control strategy for a robotic hip exoskeleton for assisting hip flexion/extension, based on a proportional Electromyography (EMG) strategy. The novelty of the proposed controller relies on the use of the Gastrocnemius Medialis (GM) EMG signal instead of a hip flexor muscle, to control the hip flexion torque. This strategy has two main advantages: first, avoiding the placement of the EMG electrodes at the human-robot interface can reduce discomfort issues for the user and motion artifacts of the recorded signals; second, using a powerful signal for control, such as the GM, could improve the reliability of the control system. The control strategy has been tested on eight healthy subjects, walking with the robotic hip exoskeleton on the treadmill. We evaluated the controller performance and the effect of the assistance on muscle activities. The tuning of the assistance timing in the controller was subject dependent and varied across subjects. Two muscles could benefit more from the assistive strategy, namely the Rectus Femoris (directly assisted) and the Tibialis Anterior (indirectly assisted). A significant correlation was found between the timing of the delivered assistance (i.e., synchronism with the biological hip torque), and reduction of the hip flexors muscular activity during walking; instead, no significant correlations were found for peak torque and peak power. Results suggest that the timing of the assistance is the most significant parameter influencing the effectiveness of the control strategy. The findings of this work could be important for future studies aimed at developing assistive strategies for walking assistance exoskeletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Grazi
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Simona Crea
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Parri
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Silvestro Micera
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translation Neuroengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Vitiello
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Firenze, Italy
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Akiyama Y, Toda H, Ogura T, Okamoto S, Yamada Y. Classification and analysis of the natural corner curving motion of humans based on gait motion. Gait Posture 2018; 60:15-21. [PMID: 29128688 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The curving motion of the human body is more complex than gait motion for straight walking. In particular, when human can freely curve corners, the gait motion varies among and even within individuals. However, is it not possible to classify natural curving motion using a statistical method? This study investigates the natural curving motion, encompassing various walking paths selected by subjects, as opposed to previous studies that focused on specific stepping strategies or curving motion under precisely controlled conditions. As a result, the natural curving motions are statistically classified into five distinct groups based on certain motion indices. Each group represents a curving strategy and is mainly characterized by the inner inclination of the pelvis, outer rotation of hip joints at the time of heel contact of the inner leg, and inner and/or outer rotation of hip joints at the time of heel contact of the outer leg. Such strategies are speculated as typical motions within the large variation in natural curving motion. Another finding is that, unlike the joint pattern of lower limb joints in the sagittal plane, hip rotation and the abduction/adduction angle drastically change when curving. In particular, the large inner rotation and abduction angles of the hip joint of both legs, which reached approximately 30° and 10°, respectively, become important when considering the curving gait of a physical assistant robot. Our analysis and findings help specify the joint motion required for physical assistant robots.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hitoshi Toda
- Mie Prefectural Police, 100, 1, Sakae, Tsu, Mie, Japan
| | - Takao Ogura
- Mie Prefectural Police, 100, 1, Sakae, Tsu, Mie, Japan
| | - Shogo Okamoto
- Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoji Yamada
- Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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Lee SH, Lee HJ, Chang WH, Choi BO, Lee J, Kim J, Ryu GH, Kim YH. Gait performance and foot pressure distribution during wearable robot-assisted gait in elderly adults. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2017; 14:123. [PMID: 29183379 PMCID: PMC5706419 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-017-0333-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A robotic exoskeleton device is an intelligent system designed to improve gait performance and quality of life for the wearer. Robotic technology has developed rapidly in recent years, and several robot-assisted gait devices were developed to enhance gait function and activities of daily living in elderly adults and patients with gait disorders. In this study, we investigated the effects of the Gait-enhancing Mechatronic System (GEMS), a new wearable robotic hip-assist device developed by Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd., Korea, on gait performance and foot pressure distribution in elderly adults. METHODS Thirty elderly adults who had no neurological or musculoskeletal abnormalities affecting gait participated in this study. A three-dimensional (3D) motion capture system, surface electromyography and the F-Scan system were used to collect data on spatiotemporal gait parameters, muscle activity and foot pressure distribution under three conditions: free gait without robot assistance (FG), robot-assisted gait with zero torque (RAG-Z) and robot-assisted gait (RAG). RESULTS We found increased gait speed, cadence, stride length and single support time in the RAG condition. Reduced rectus femoris and medial gastrocnemius muscle activity throughout the terminal stance phase and reduced effort of the medial gastrocnemius muscle throughout the pre-swing phase were also observed in the RAG condition. In addition, walking with the assistance of GEMS resulted in a significant increase in foot pressure distribution, specifically in maximum force and peak pressure of the total foot, medial masks, anterior masks and posterior masks. CONCLUSION The results of the present study reveal that GEMS may present an alternative way of restoring age-related changes in gait such as gait instability with muscle weakness, reduced step force and lower foot pressure in elderly adults. In addition, GEMS improved gait performance by improving push-off power and walking speed and reducing muscle activity in the lower extremities. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02843828 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Hyun Lee
- Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Irwon-ro 81, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351 Republic of Korea
| | - Hwang-Jae Lee
- Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Irwon-ro 81, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351 Republic of Korea
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Department of Medical Device Management and Research, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Irwon-ro 81, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351 Republic of Korea
| | - Won Hyuk Chang
- Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Irwon-ro 81, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351 Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Ok Choi
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Irwon-ro 81, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351 Republic of Korea
| | - Jusuk Lee
- Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Samsung Electronics, 130 Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu Gyeonggi-do, Suwon-si, 16678 Republic of Korea
| | - Jeonghun Kim
- Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Samsung Electronics, 130 Samsung-ro, Yeongtong-gu Gyeonggi-do, Suwon-si, 16678 Republic of Korea
| | - Gyu-Ha Ryu
- Office of Biomechanical science, Research Center for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Irwon-ro 81, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351 Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Hee Kim
- Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Irwon-ro 81, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351 Republic of Korea
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Department of Medical Device Management and Research, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Irwon-ro 81, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351 Republic of Korea
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Bilateral, Misalignment-Compensating, Full-DOF Hip Exoskeleton: Design and Kinematic Validation. Appl Bionics Biomech 2017; 2017:5813154. [PMID: 28790799 PMCID: PMC5534269 DOI: 10.1155/2017/5813154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A shared design goal for most robotic lower limb exoskeletons is to reduce the metabolic cost of locomotion for the user. Despite this, only a limited amount of devices was able to actually reduce user metabolic consumption. Preservation of the natural motion kinematics was defined as an important requirement for a device to be metabolically beneficial. This requires the inclusion of all human degrees of freedom (DOF) in a design, as well as perfect alignment of the rotation axes. As perfect alignment is impossible, compensation for misalignment effects should be provided. A misalignment compensation mechanism for a 3-DOF system is presented in this paper. It is validated by the implementation in a bilateral hip exoskeleton, resulting in a compact and lightweight device that can be donned fast and autonomously, with a minimum of required adaptations. Extensive testing of the prototype has shown that hip range of motion of the user is maintained while wearing the device and this for all three hip DOFs. This allowed the users to maintain their natural motion patterns when they are walking with the novel hip exoskeleton.
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Dembia CL, Silder A, Uchida TK, Hicks JL, Delp SL. Simulating ideal assistive devices to reduce the metabolic cost of walking with heavy loads. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180320. [PMID: 28700630 PMCID: PMC5507502 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Wearable robotic devices can restore and enhance mobility. There is growing interest in designing devices that reduce the metabolic cost of walking; however, designers lack guidelines for which joints to assist and when to provide the assistance. To help address this problem, we used musculoskeletal simulation to predict how hypothetical devices affect muscle activity and metabolic cost when walking with heavy loads. We explored 7 massless devices, each providing unrestricted torque at one degree of freedom in one direction (hip abduction, hip flexion, hip extension, knee flexion, knee extension, ankle plantarflexion, or ankle dorsiflexion). We used the Computed Muscle Control algorithm in OpenSim to find device torque profiles that minimized the sum of squared muscle activations while tracking measured kinematics of loaded walking without assistance. We then examined the metabolic savings provided by each device, the corresponding device torque profiles, and the resulting changes in muscle activity. We found that the hip flexion, knee flexion, and hip abduction devices provided greater metabolic savings than the ankle plantarflexion device. The hip abduction device had the greatest ratio of metabolic savings to peak instantaneous positive device power, suggesting that frontal-plane hip assistance may be an efficient way to reduce metabolic cost. Overall, the device torque profiles generally differed from the corresponding net joint moment generated by muscles without assistance, and occasionally exceeded the net joint moment to reduce muscle activity at other degrees of freedom. Many devices affected the activity of muscles elsewhere in the limb; for example, the hip flexion device affected muscles that span the ankle joint. Our results may help experimentalists decide which joint motions to target when building devices and can provide intuition for how devices may interact with the musculoskeletal system. The simulations are freely available online, allowing others to reproduce and extend our work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L. Dembia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Amy Silder
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas K. Uchida
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Jennifer L. Hicks
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Scott L. Delp
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
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Young AJ, Gannon H, Ferris DP. A Biomechanical Comparison of Proportional Electromyography Control to Biological Torque Control Using a Powered Hip Exoskeleton. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2017; 5:37. [PMID: 28713810 PMCID: PMC5491916 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2017.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite a large increase in robotic exoskeleton research, there are few studies that have examined human performance with different control strategies on the same exoskeleton device. Direct comparison studies are needed to determine how users respond to different types of control. The purpose of this study was to compare user performance using a robotic hip exoskeleton with two different controllers: a controller that targeted a biological hip torque profile and a proportional myoelectric controller. METHODS We tested both control approaches on 10 able-bodied subjects using a pneumatically powered hip exoskeleton. The state machine controller targeted a biological hip torque profile. The myoelectric controller used electromyography (EMG) of lower limb muscles to produce a proportional control signal for the hip exoskeleton. Each subject performed two 30-min exoskeleton walking trials (1.0 m/s) using each controller and a 10-min trial with the exoskeleton unpowered. During each trial, we measured subjects' metabolic cost of walking, lower limb EMG profiles, and joint kinematics and kinetics (torques and powers) using a force treadmill and motion capture. RESULTS Compared to unassisted walking in the exoskeleton, myoelectric control significantly reduced metabolic cost by 13% (p = 0.005) and biological hip torque control reduced metabolic cost by 7% (p = 0.261). Subjects reduced muscle activity relative to the unpowered condition for a greater number of lower limb muscles using myoelectric control compared to the biological hip torque control. More subjects subjectively preferred the myoelectric controller to the biological hip torque control. CONCLUSION Myoelectric control had more advantages (metabolic cost and muscle activity reduction) compared to a controller that targeted a biological torque profile for walking with a robotic hip exoskeleton. However, these results were obtained with a single exoskeleton device with specific control configurations while level walking at a single speed. Further testing on different exoskeleton hardware and with more varied experimental protocols, such as testing over multiple types of terrain, is needed to fully elucidate the potential benefits of myoelectric control for exoskeleton technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Young
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Hannah Gannon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Daniel P Ferris
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Young AJ, Foss J, Gannon H, Ferris DP. Influence of Power Delivery Timing on the Energetics and Biomechanics of Humans Wearing a Hip Exoskeleton. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2017; 5:4. [PMID: 28337434 PMCID: PMC5340778 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2017.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A broad goal in the field of powered lower limb exoskeletons is to reduce the metabolic cost of walking. Ankle exoskeletons have successfully achieved this goal by correctly timing a plantarflexor torque during late stance phase. Hip exoskeletons have the potential to assist with both flexion and extension during walking gait, but the optimal timing for maximally reducing metabolic cost is unknown. The focus of our study was to determine the best assistance timing for applying hip assistance through a pneumatic exoskeleton on human subjects. Ten non-impaired subjects walked with a powered hip exoskeleton, and both hip flexion and extension assistance were separately provided at different actuation timings using a simple burst controller. The largest average across-subject reduction in metabolic cost for hip extension was at 90% of the gait cycle (just prior to heel contact) and for hip flexion was at 50% of the gait cycle; this resulted in an 8.4 and 6.1% metabolic reduction, respectively, compared to walking with the unpowered exoskeleton. However, the ideal timing for both flexion and extension assistance varied across subjects. When selecting the assistance timing that maximally reduced metabolic cost for each subject, average metabolic cost for hip extension was 10.3% lower and hip flexion was 9.7% lower than the unpowered condition. When taking into account user preference, we found that subject preference did not correlate with metabolic cost. This indicated that user feedback was a poor method of determining the most metabolically efficient assistance power timing. The findings of this study are relevant to developers of exoskeletons that have a powered hip component to assist during human walking gait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J. Young
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jessica Foss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hannah Gannon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Daniel P. Ferris
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Zheng E, Manca S, Yan T, Parri A, Vitiello N, Wang Q. Gait Phase Estimation Based on Noncontact Capacitive Sensing and Adaptive Oscillators. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2017; 64:2419-2430. [PMID: 28252387 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2017.2672720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a novel strategy aiming to acquire an accurate and walking-speed-adaptive estimation of the gait phase through noncontact capacitive sensing and adaptive oscillators (AOs). The capacitive sensing system is designed with two sensing cuffs that can measure the leg muscle shape changes during walking. The system can be dressed above the clothes and free human skin from contacting to electrodes. In order to track the capacitance signals, the gait phase estimator is designed based on the AO dynamic system due to its ability of synchronizing with quasi-periodic signals. After the implementation of the whole system, we first evaluated the offline estimation performance by experiments with 12 healthy subjects walking on a treadmill with changing speeds. The strategy achieved an accurate and consistent gait phase estimation with only one channel of capacitance signal. The average root-mean-square errors in one stride were 0.19 rad (3.0% of one gait cycle) for constant walking speeds and 0.31 rad (4.9% of one gait cycle) for speed transitions even after the subjects rewore the sensing cuffs. We then validated our strategy in a real-time gait phase estimation task with three subjects walking with changing speeds. Our study indicates that the strategy based on capacitive sensing and AOs is a promising alternative for the control of exoskeleton/orthosis.
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Lee HJ, Lee S, Chang WH, Seo K, Shim Y, Choi BO, Ryu GH, Kim YH. A Wearable Hip Assist Robot Can Improve Gait Function and Cardiopulmonary Metabolic Efficiency in Elderly Adults. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2017; 25:1549-1557. [PMID: 28186902 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2017.2664801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The aims of this paper were to investigate the effectiveness of a newly developed wearable hip assist robot, that uses an active assist algorithm to improve gait function, muscle effort, and cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency in elderly adults. Thirty elderly adults (15 males/ 15 females) participated in thispaper. The experimental protocol consisted of overground gait at comfortable speed under three different conditions: free gait without robot assistance, robot-assisted gait with zero torque (RAG-Z), and full RAG. Under all conditions, muscle effort was analyzed using a 12-channel surface electromyography system. Spatio-temporal data were collected at 120 Hz using a 3-D motion capture system with six infrared cameras. Metabolic cost parameters were collected as oxygen consumption per unit (ml/min/kg) and aerobic energy expenditure (Kcal/min). In the RAG condition, participants demonstrated improved gait function, decreased muscle effort, and reduced metabolic cost. Although the hip assist robot only provides assistance at the hip joint, our results demonstrated a clear reduction in knee and ankle muscle activity in addition to decreased hip flexor and extensor activity. Our findings suggest that this robot has the potential to improve stabilization of the trunk during walking in elderly adults.
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