Paper:
A Stepper Motor-Powered Lower Limb Exoskeleton with Multiple Assistance Functions for Daily Use by the Elderly
Yifan Fang, Bingkai Hou, Xiuyuan Wu, Yuntian Wang, Keisuke Osawa , and Eiichiro Tanaka
Waseda University
2-7 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 808-0135, Japan
With the increase in the aging population, the demand for healthcare devices has increased. Among the aging population, many experience joint pain, muscle weakness, or poor balance. Without external help, such persons may have difficulty walking, fall easily, or experience poor quality of life. To provide this category of the population with the opportunity to exercise and walk safely and take care of themselves in daily activities, a stepper motor-powered walking assistive device is proposed and built. The device enables users with different heights to walk in suitable gaits; assists users to stand up, sit down, and step up or down stairs; automatically detects user’s intention using pressure sensors and potentiometers; and can be used outdoors for long periods. In this study, the effectiveness of the device is verified using muscle-activity measurements.
- [1] B. S. Rupal, S. Rafique, A. Singla, E. Singla, M. Isaksson, and G. S. Virk, “Lower-limb exoskeletons: Research trends and regulatory guidelines in medical and non-medical applications,” Int. J. of Advanced Robotic Systems, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1-27, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/1729881417743554
- [2] T. Kosaki and S. Li, “A Water-Hydraulic Upper-Limb Assistive Exoskeleton System with Displacement Estimation,” J. Robot. Mechatron., Vol.32, No.1, pp. 149-156, 2020. https://doi.org/10.20965/jrm.2020.p0149
- [3] S. Kimura, R. Suzuki, K. Machida, R. Nishihama, M. Okui, and T. Nakamura, “Proposal of Motion Judgment Algorithm Based on Joint Angle of Variable Elastic Assist Suit with High Back Drivability,” J. Robot. Mechatron., Vol.32, No.5, pp. 863-875, 2020. https://doi.org/10.20965/jrm.2020.p0863
- [4] R. Sawahashi, J. Komatsu, R. Nishihama, M. Okui, and T. Nakamura, “Development of a Bimanual Wearable Force Feedback Device with Pneumatic Artificial Muscles, MR Fluid Brakes, and Sensibility Evaluation Based on Pushing Motion,” J. Robot. Mechatron., Vol.35, No.1, pp. 180-193, 2023. https://doi.org/10.20965/jrm.2023.p0180
- [5] E. Tanaka, T. Ikehara, T. Omata, T. Owada, K. Nagamura, K. Ikejo, T. Sakamoto, and Y. Inoue, “Development of a walking assist machine supporting whole legs from their soles,” Trans. of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, Part C, Vol.72, No.724, pp. 3871-3877, 2006 (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.1299/kikaic.72.3871
- [6] H. Yusa, E. Tanaka, T. Ikehara, K. Ito, S. Saegusa, K. Hashimoto, Y. Sato, and L. Yuge, “Development of a walking assistance apparatus using a spatial parallel link mechanism and evaluation of muscle activity,” 19th IEEE Int. Symp. in Robot and Human Interactive Communication (IEEE Ro-Man 2010), pp. 151-158, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1109/ROMAN.2010.5598686
- [7] E. Tanaka, T. Ikehara, Y. Sato, H. Yusa, T Sakurai, S. Saegusa, K. Ito, and L. Yuge, “Walking Assistance Apparatus Using a Spatial Parallel Link Mechanism and a Weight Bearing Lift,” Proc. of the IEEE Int. Conf. on Rehabilitation Robotics, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICORR.2011.5975469
- [8] E. Tanaka, T. Ikehara, Y. Sato, H. Yusa, K. Ito, S. Saegusa, K. Nakagawa, Y. Aokage, and L. Yuge, “Development of a walking assistance apparatus without fixation on legs and study on the assistance effectiveness with electromyography,” Trans. of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, Part C, Vol.77, No.775, pp. 1119-1132, 2011 (in Japanese). https://doi.org/10.1299/kikaic.77.1119
- [9] E. Tanaka, T. Suzuki, S. Saegusa, and L. Yuge, “Walking Assistance Apparatus Able to Select the Control Method According to the Purpose of the User,” Proc. of 14th Int. Symp. on Robotics and Applications (ISORA 2014), the World Automation Congress 2014 (WAC2014), pp. 537-542, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1109/WAC.2014.6936036
- [10] B. Yang, H. Lee, and E. Tanaka, “Posture compensation of a walking assistive device using zero-moment point to stabilize motions on stairs,” J. of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing, Vol.14, No.3, Article No.JAMDSM0036, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1299/jamdsm.2020jamdsm0036
- [11] B. Yang, Y. Zhang, H. Wang, S. Yu, H. Lee, and E. Tanaka, “Automatic walking pattern transformation method of an assistive device during stair-ground transition,” J. of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing, Vol.15, No.1, Article No.JAMDSM0002, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1299/jamdsm.2021jamdsm0002
- [12] S. Yu, B. Yang, H. Lee, and E. Tanaka, “A Ground-Stair Walking Strategy of the Assistive Device Based on RGB-D Camera,” 2021 IEEE/SICE Int. Symp. on System Integration (SII), pp. 341-346, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1109/IEEECONF49454.2021.9382668
- [13] E. Tanaka, S. Saegusa, Y. Iwasaki, and L. Yuge, “Development of an ADL Assistance Apparatus for Upper Limbs and Evaluation of Muscle and Cerebral Activity of the User,” J. of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing, Vol.8, No.2, Article No.JAMDSM0010, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1299/jamdsm.2014jamdsm0010
- [14] E. Tanaka, S. Saegusa, and L. Yuge, “Evaluation of Muscle and Cerebral Activity While Using an Upper Limb Motion Assistance Apparatus Study of the Usage of ADL Assistance for Myopathy Patients and Neuro-rehabilitation Assistance for Apoplexy Patients,” Trans. of the Society of Instrument and Control Engineers, Vol.51, No.5, pp. 336-343, 2015 (in Japanese).
- [15] Y. Liao, C. Zong, H. Lee, and E. Tanaka, “Development of Kinect-based Upper-Limb Assistance Device for the Motions of Activities Daily Living,” 2018 IEEE Int. Conf. on Cyborg and Bionic Systems (CBS2018), FrCT2.5, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1109/CBS.2018.8612155
- [16] E. Tanaka, Y. Iwasaki, S. Saegusa, and L. Yuge, “Gait and ADL Rehabilitation using a Whole Body Motion Support Type Mobile Suit Evaluated by Cerebral Activity,” Proc. of 2012 IEEE Int. Conf. on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICSMC.2012.6378298
- [17] E. Tanaka, S. Saegusa, and L. Yuge, “Development of a Whole Body Motion Support Type Mobile Suit and Evaluation of Cerebral Activity Corresponding to the Cortical Motor Areas,” J. of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing, Vol.7, No.1, pp. 82-94, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1299/jamdsm.7.82
- [18] E. Tanaka, K. Muramatsu, K. Watanuki, S. Saegusa, and L. Yuge, “Walking Assistance Apparatus Enabled for Neuro-Rehabilitation of Patients and its Effectiveness,” Mechanical Engineering Letter, Vol.1, Article No.15-00530, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1299/MEL.15-00530
- [19] E. Tanaka, R. Niwa, K. Osawa, K. Nakajima, K. Muramatsu, K. Watanuki, S. Saegusa, and L. Yuge, “Motion assistance apparatus enabled for neuro-rehabilitation of patients and for the promotion of exercise for the elderly,” IEEE/ASME Int. Conf. on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM2015), 2015. https://doi.org/10.1109/AIM.2015.7222659
- [20] J. Zhuang, Y. Guan, H. Nagayoshi, K. Muramatsu, K. Watanuki, and E. Tanaka, “Real-Time Emotion Recognition System with Multiple Physiological Signals,” J. of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing, Vol.13, No.4, Article No.JAMDSM0075, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1299/jamdsm.2019jamdsm0075
- [21] E. Tanaka, Y. Gong, Y. Li, J. Yang, J. Zhuang, and K. Osawa, “Three Dimensional Human Condition Model during Walking Based on Emotion Estimation and Muscle Fatigue Evaluation,” The 2022 World Automation Congress (WAC2022), pp. 633-637, 2022. https://doi.org/10.23919/WAC55640.2022.9934297
- [22] Y. Wei, Y. Li, M. Xu, Y. Hua, Y. Gong, K. Osawa, and E. Tanaka, “A Real-Time and Two-Dimensional Emotion Recognition System Based on EEG and HRV using Machine Learning,” The 2023 IEEE/SICE Int. Symp. on System Integrations (SII2023), pp. 975-980, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1109/SII55687.2023.10039222
- [23] E. Tanaka, K. Muramatsu, K. Watanuki, S. Saegusa, and L. Yuge, “Development of a Walking Assistance Apparatus for Gait Training and Promotion of Exercise,” IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics and Automation Stockholm (ICRA 2016), pp. 3711-3716, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICRA.2016.7487557
- [24] E. Tanaka, K. Muramatsu, Y. Osawa, S. Saegusa, L. Yuge, and K. Watanuki, “A walking promotion method using the tuning of a beat sound based on a two-dimensional emotion map,” Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, Vol.483, pp. 519-525, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41661-8_50
- [25] J. Zhuang, Y. Guan, H. Nagayoshi, L. Yuge, H. Lee, and E. Tanaka, “Two-dimensional emotion evaluation with multiple physiological signals,” Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, Vol.774, pp. 158-168, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94944-4_18
- [26] E. Tanaka, J. Zhuang, B. Yang, G. Wu, H. Lee, and L. Yuge, “A Walking Assistive Device of Ankle Joint Motion and Control Method Taken into Account the Emotion Condition,” 2020 IEEE/SICE Int. Symp. on System Integration, 2020.
- [27] J. Yang, J. Zhuang, G. Wu, and E. Tanaka, “Study of Current Emotion and Muscle Fatigue Evaluation Method for a Walking assistive Device,” 2020 IEEE/ASME Int. Conf. on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM), TuP2S.5, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1109/AIM43001.2020.9158852
- [28] J. Zhuang, H. Nagayoshi, H. Kondo, K. Muramatsu, K. Watanuki, and E. Tanaka, “Development of a torque limiter for the gear of an assistive walking device,” J. of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing, Vol.11, No.6, Article No.17-00376, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1299/jamdsm.2017jamdsm0089
- [29] Y. Li, Y. Gong, J. Zhuang, J. Yang, K. Osawa, K. Nakagawa, H. Lee, L. Yuge, and E. Tanaka, “Development of Automatic Controlled Walking Assistive Device Based on Fatigue and Emotion Detection,” J. Robot. Mechatron., Vol.34, No.6, pp. 1383-1397, 2022. https://doi.org/10.20965/jrm.2022.p1383
- [30] M.-Y. Xu, Y.-F. Hua, Y.-F. Li, J.-R. Zhuang, K. Osawa, K. Nakagawa, H.-H. Lee, L. Yuge, and E. Tanaka, “Development of an Ankle Assistive Robot with Instantly Gait-Adaptive Method,” J. Robot. Mechatron., Vol.35, No.3, pp. 669-683, 2023. https://doi.org/10.20965/jrm.2023.p0669
This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationa License.