Development of a Control Method of a Walking Assistance Apparatus for the Elderly or Rehabilitants

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiichirou Tanaka ◽  
Tadaaki Ikehara ◽  
Hirokazu Yusa ◽  
Yusuke Sato ◽  
Tomohiro Sakurai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Method ◽  
Impedance Control ◽  
Weight Bearing ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Angular Frequency ◽  
Hip Joints ◽  
Walking Behavior ◽  
Leg Alignment ◽  
Walking Velocity ◽  
Parallel Link

A prototype for a walking assistance apparatus for the elderly or rehabilitants of motor palsy patients was developed as a next-generation vehicle or movable neuro-rehabilitation training appliance, using a novel spatial parallel link mechanism and a bearing lift. The flat steps of the apparatus move in parallel with the ground; the apparatus can support entire leg alignment (including soles) and assist; walking behavior at ankle, knee and hip joints simultaneously. To respond to the variation of equipped person’s walking velocity, the length of stride and walking cycle while walking with wearing the apparatus were compensated by using walking ratio. Therefore the apparatus can be controlled in response to equipped person’s will. Next, we developed a control method of the apparatus by using impedance control, taking into account the dynamics of the apparatus and the legs of an equipped person, and assist ratio for the equipped person. By adjusting the value of natural angular frequency of the desired dynamic equation for the equipped person, this apparatus can assist walking according to the equipped person’s desired response of the apparatus. Furthermore, motor palsy and muscle weakness patients can walk by themselves by using the apparatus; patients who have ambulation difficulty can use the apparatus with weight bearing lift that we developed. Using the apparatus with the weight bearing lift prevents stumbling and enables input of walking movement to the brain motor area. From the results of measured %MVC, the validity of the weight bearing lift was shown.

Development of a Walking-Assistance Apparatus for Neuro-Rehabilitation

2012 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 258-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiichirou Tanaka ◽  
Tadaaki Ikehara ◽  
Tomohiro Sakurai ◽  
Takahiro Suzuki ◽  
Shota Roppongi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Bearing ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Thenar Eminence ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Hip Joints ◽  
Walking Behavior ◽  
Leg Alignment ◽  
Soles Of The Feet

We have developed a prototype for a walking-assistance apparatus that serves as a next-generation vehicle or a movable neuro-rehabilitation training appliance for the elderly or motor palsy patients. Our prototype uses a novel spatial parallel link mechanism with a weight-bearing lift. Flat steps of the apparatus move in parallel with the ground; the apparatus supports the entire leg alignment (including soles of the feet) and assists walking behavior at the ankle, knee, and hip joints simultaneously. To estimate the walking phase of each leg of the equipped person, pressure sensors were attached under the thenar eminence and the heel of the sole and the pressure variation at each sensing point was measured. To determine the direction in which the equipped person is walking, a pressure sensor was attached to the flexible crural link. Motor palsy patients and those with muscle weakness can walk with the assistance of the apparatus. Patients who have ambulation difficulty can also use the apparatus with a weight-bearing lift that we developed. Using the apparatus with the weight-bearing lift prevents stumbling and enables input of walking movement to the brain motor area. The validity of the weight-bearing lift can be confirmed from the results of the measured %maximum voluntary contraction (MVC).

scholarly journals Walking-Assistance Apparatus as a Next-Generation Vehicle and Movable Neuro-Rehabilitation Training Appliance

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 851-865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiichirou Tanaka ◽  
◽  
Tadaaki Ikehara ◽  
Hirokazu Yusa ◽  
Yusuke Sato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stride Length ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Impedance Control ◽  
Weight Bearing ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Rehabilitation Training

We have developed a prototype for a walkingassistance apparatus that serves as a next-generation vehicle or a movable neuro-rehabilitation training appliance for the elderly or motor palsy patients. Our prototype uses a novel spatial parallel link mechanism with a weight-bearing lift. The flat steps of the apparatus move in parallel with the ground; the apparatus supports complete leg alignment, including the soles of the feet, and assists walking behavior at the ankle, knee, and hip joints simultaneously. To estimate the walking phase of each leg of the user, pressure sensors were attached under the thenar eminence and the heel of the sole and the pressure variation at each sensing point was measured. To determine the direction in which the user is walking, a pressure sensor was attached to the flexible crural link. To adapt to the variations in the user’s walking velocity, the stride length and walking cycle while walking with the apparatus were compensated for using the concept of the walking ratio (the stride length times the walking cycle is constant). The apparatus can therefore be controlled in response to the user’s intent. We developed a control method for the apparatus by using impedance control, taking into account the dynamics of the apparatus and the user’s legs, as well as the assist ratio for the user. By adjusting the natural angular frequency of the desired dynamic equation for the user, our apparatus assists walking according to the user’s desired response. Motor palsy patients and those with weak muscles can walk with the assistance of the apparatus. Patients who have ambulation difficulty can also use the apparatus with a weight-bearing lift that we developed. Using the apparatus with this lift helps prevent stumbling and enables walking movement to be input to the brain’s motor area. The validity of the weightbearing lift is confirmed from the results of measured %Maximum Voluntary Contraction (%MVC).

Study on the Walking Support Machine Indoors by Assisting Whole Legs

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiichirou Tanaka ◽  
Tadaaki Ikehara ◽  
Kazuteru Nagamura ◽  
Kiyotaka Ikejo ◽  
Takeshi Sakamoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Method ◽  
Tibialis Anterior Muscle ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Thenar Eminence ◽  
Flexible Link ◽  
Integrated Emg ◽  
Parallel Link ◽  
At Will

There is currently research to support the construction of a walking assist machine, which machine uses a spatial parallel link mechanism for the elderly or rehabilitants. The flat steps of the assist machine move in parallel with the ground and can support the legs of a person including the soles. We developed a prototype and designed to assist people walking at up to fifty percent power. To grasp the walking phase of each leg of the equipped person, pressure sensors were laid under the thenar eminence and the heel of the sole, and the pressure variation at each sensing point was measured. For safety support, we developed a control method of the walking assist machine to fit the motion in phase by phase. Furthermore, in order to support walking indoors, we investigated the assist methods of turning around during walking and walking on a slope or stairs. A flexible link was installed in the mechanism for taking into account the twisting motions of the waist and ankle. To grasp the behavior of turning around during walking of the equipped person, pressure sensors were attached outside of the flexible link in both crural parts of the machine. As a result of the experiment wearing the machine, the equipped person could turn around during walking at will. To confirm the validity of the supporting method, muscle activity of the leg while wearing the walking assist machine evaluated by using the surface electromyography (called as “EMG”), and calculated the ratio of the integrated EMG (called as “IEMG”) with and without the walking assist machine. The initial results show that the activities of the rectus femoris muscle and the tibialis anterior muscle can be held to approximately 60 percent by wearing the walking assist machine. Furthermore, in order to support walking indoors, we investigated the assist methods of walking on a slope or stairs. The machine was equipped with a gyro sensor and an ultrasonic sensor; the angle of the slope and the size of stairs could recognize and the machine could be controled according to the signals from the sensors. As a result of the experiment wearing the machine, the equipped person could walk on a slope or stairs at will. The subject assisted with the machine was able to walk on a slope up to the angle of plus or minus fifteen degrees.

Impedance Control Based Sliding Mode for Lower Limb Rehabilitation Robot

2014 ◽  
Vol 672-674 ◽  
pp. 1770-1773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fu Cheng Cao ◽  
Li Min Du
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Response ◽  
Sliding Mode Control ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Sliding Mode ◽  
Impedance Control ◽  
Rehabilitation Robot ◽  
Active Rehabilitation ◽  
Limb Rehabilitation ◽  
Lower Limb Rehabilitation

Aimed at improving the dynamic response of the lower limb for patients, an impedance control method based on sliding mode was presented to implement an active rehabilitation. Impedance control can achieve a target-reaching training without the help of a therapist and sliding mode control has a robustness to system uncertainty and vary limb strength. Simulations demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method for lower limb rehabilitation.

High-rate deposition of Sb-doped SnO2 films by reactive sputtering using the impedance control method

2011 ◽  
Vol 520 (4) ◽  
pp. 1178-1181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Muto ◽  
Nobuto Oka ◽  
Naoki Tsukamoto ◽  
Yoshinori Iwabuchi ◽  
Hidefumi Kotsubo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Method ◽  
Impedance Control ◽  
Reactive Sputtering ◽  
High Rate

scholarly journals Time-Varying Impedance Control of Port Hamiltonian System with a New Energy-Storing Tank

Complexity ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Zheng ◽  
Tangqing Yuan ◽  
Tao Huang
Keyword(s):  
Control Method ◽  
Impedance Control ◽  
Conservative System ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
Singularity Problem ◽  
Numerical Examples ◽  
New Energy ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
New Framework

In order to guarantee the passivity of a kind of conservative system, the port Hamiltonian framework combined with a new energy tank is proposed in this paper. A time-varying impedance controller is designed based on this new framework. The time-varying impedance control method is an extension of conventional impedance control and overcomes the singularity problem that existed in the traditional form of energy tank. The validity of the controller designed in this paper is shown by numerical examples. The simulation results show that the proposed controller can not only eliminate the singularity problem but can also improve the control performance.

scholarly journals Controlling of a ROS-based robotic system in accordance to the assist-as-needed principle in end-effector based rehabilitation systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-202
Author(s):  
Sebastian Becker ◽  
Wiebke Hinterlang ◽  
Tim Eschert ◽  
Catherine Disselhorst-Klug
Keyword(s):  
Impedance Control ◽  
Proximal Part ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Robot Kinematics ◽  
Robotic Rehabilitation ◽  
End Effector ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Robotic Devices

AbstractStroke is one of the most frequent diseases among the elderly and often leads to an ongoing failure of functions in the central nervous system. Due to the plasticity of the brain affected may regain lost motor function by repetitive training. Robotic devices can be an approach to accelerate the rehabilitation process by maximizing patients’ training intensity. End-effector based robotic systems are particularly suitable for this purpose and often an advantage over exoskeletons since the proximal part of the upper limb remains under the control of the patient. Furthermore, the integration of the assistas- needed principle (AAN) into these devices enables individualized, adaptable robotic support to patients during therapy. In this study an end-effector based robotic rehabilitation device based on the Robot Operating System (ROS) framework is introduced. The system allows patients to perform 3- dimensional movements without a therapist’s assistance. With regard to the AAN, focus was based on impedance control and an additional real-time adaption of the impedance control parameters by using a feedback loop. 10 healthy subjects took part in this study to evaluate the overall concept with regard to usability and quality of the supported movement. Hence, the three most promising adaption models of AAN (without adaption, adaption according to position and time, adaption according to velocity) under three different levels of movement support (0%, 50%, 100%) were investigated by administering a self-designed questionnaire and the robot kinematics. The results showed no significant differences between the three different adaption models of AAN. However, the subjective assessment of the movements was in keeping with robot kinematics and the control approaches as well as the overall system have experienced remarkable support.

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