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This paper presents design of a novel modular lower-limb gait exoskeleton built within the FP7 BioMot project. Exoskeleton employs a variable stiffness actuator in all 6 joints, a directional-flexibility structure and a novel physical humanrobot interfacing, which allows it to deliver the required output while minimally constraining user's gait by providing passive degrees of freedom. Due to modularity,...
Inspired by biological systems, compliant elements are introduced in the driving train of legged robots with the purpose of recycling energy. This paper presents the design and control concept of the monopedal robot SPEAR, driven by a novel implementation of a Switchable Parallel Elastic Actuator (S-PEA). At the stance phase, the parallel spring in S-PEA works with the actuator to support body weight...
In this paper, we describe the development of a leg with a rotational joint that mimics the elastic characteristics of the leg of a running human. The purpose of this development was to realize the dynamics of human running, the analysis of which has revealed that the motion of the leg can be modeled by a compression spring and that of the leg joint by a torsion spring. We, therefore, assumed that...
In this paper we present the alpha-prototype of the WAKE-up, a wearable robotic device for the rehabilitation of locomotion of pediatric subjects with neurological diseases such as Cerebral Palsy. The WAKE-up is an active knee-ankle orthosis. It is composed of two robotic modules for the rehabilitation of knee and ankle, respectively. Each module can be utilized either alone or together with the other...
We are developing an intelligent compact and modular knee-ankle-foot robot gait rehabilitation at outpatient and home settings. The robot is designed with a novel compact compliant force controllable actuator. We adopt a modular design for the knee and ankle joint so that the robot can assist patients with different conditions of gait impairments. The light-weight anthropomorphic structure designed...
Passive dynamic locomotion is well-known for its fabulous advantages in energy efficiency. In this paper we focus on the level passive running problem of a kneed biped. The knee joints of our robot model are elastic with torque springs. So energy dissipation is avoided at landing. Passive gaits have been firstly demonstrated on this kneed biped in this paper, yet they are not stable. Note that there...
This paper introduces the mechanical design and the control concept of the Series Compliant Articulated Robotic Leg ScarlETH which was developed at ETH Zurich for fast, efficient, and versatile locomotion. Inspired by biological systems, we seek to achieve this through large compliances in the joints which enable natural dynamics, allow temporary energy storage, and improve the passive adaptability...
A novel revolute nonlinear series elastic actuator called the HypoSEA is presented. The actuator uses a hypocycloid mechanism to stretch a linear spring in a nonlinear way. The actuator is optimized for highly dynamic tasks such as running and jumping, as it features a 120Nm torque capability and more than 30J of passive energy storage. When combined with a suitable controller, using the spring as...
Compliant actuation contributes enormously in legged locomotion robotics since it is able to alleviate control efforts in improving the robot's adaptability and energy efficiency. In this paper, we present a novel design of a variable stiffness rotary actuator, called MESTRAN, which was especially targeted to address the limitations in terms of the amount of energy and time required to vary the stiffness...
A hybrid controller that induces stable running gaits on a monopedal robot is developed. The robot features a rigid leg with a revolute knee and a heavy torso with center of mass located far from the hip. The torso houses a novel powertrain that provides series compliance in the compression direction of the leg. The proposed control law is developed within the hybrid zero dynamics framework and it...
Realizing an ideal impedance control system in lower extremity rehabilitation systems is challenged by mechanical impedance of robot hardware. Although some studies in the field of control systems have been helpful in reducing the mechanical impedance of actuators, they have not been able to remove the inertia of robot hardware. This paper introduces an alternative design in which mechanical links...
In this paper we describe the design and preliminary evaluation of an energetically-autonomous powered knee exoskeleton to facilitate running. The device consists of a knee brace in which a motorized mechanism actively places and removes a spring in parallel with the knee joint. This mechanism is controlled such that the spring is in parallel with the knee joint from approximately heel-strike to toe-off,...
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