The Field Of Soft Robotics

Dr. Delp’s research analyzes muscle movement, structure, and purpose with the use of model simulations mechanisms and other software technology. In Running with a load increases leg stiffness, it is identified that added loads to the body impacts running posture, causing crouching of the body, and does contribute to higher leg stiffness. In line with Dr. Delp’s talk today of the “Dynamics of walking and running,” a comparison is established between both types of movement and the authors delve into how each are impacted when under a load (ranging from 10-30% body fat). Subjects walking and running under a load, compared to zero load, were to found to have longer ground

In biomechanics, “the human body is viewed as a machine, or mechanical system, subject to the restrictions of the laws of physics. The body is broken down, figuratively of course, into a collection of body segments which include the forearm, foot, thigh, and so on. Connected to one another by pivoting joints, they are moved by muscular and/or extremely applied forces. The idea is to study the human body in action as it goes through some particular movement in order to isolate the various individual motions that make up the activity, to measure the speeds of body segments and the forces that act on them, and in general to acquire accurate data on all aspects of the movement.” (Brancazio, 1984, p.18) It has been estimated that approximately a hundred different

He completed 20 months of extensive rehabilitation following his injury and was performing as a highly functional independent in his community. Six months after completing his rehabilitation program, the patient volunteered for the VR-based gait training program, continuing his normal activity profile outside the training and did not start a new exercise program or make any changes to his prosthetic limb. The VR-system involved projected a VR-environment and visual feedback on the inside of a dome. A 24-camera motion capture system within the dome was used to track 3-dimensional, full-body mechanics. The training environment consisted of a straight walking path through a forested area designed to minimize distractions from the visual feedback displayed on the screen in front of the patient. The feedback was a display of a real-time, full-body virtual representation of the person and a trace of the frontal-plane trunk motion (marker at C7). To help assist the treating therapist in noticing deviations in pelvis motion, graphs of the frontal, transverse, and sagittal-plane pelvic motion were projected directly behind the

Gait analysis data were collected before the operation and one year after TKA using a three-dimensional motion analysis system (Oxford Met¬rics Inc., Oxford, UK), which consisted of eight VICON MX-T20 infra-red cameras and two force plates (AMTI, Water-town, MA, USA).

Exoskeletons and orthoses are defined as mechanical devices “worn” by an operator and fitted closely to the body to work in concert with the operator’s movements. The term “exoskeleton” is used to describe a device that augments the wearers performance, while the term “orthosis” is used to describe a device used to assist a person with limb pathology. Lower extremity exoskeletons seek to circumvent the limitations of autonomous legged robots by adding a human operator to the system. The system is designed in parallel with human limbs to augment human strength and endurance during locomotion. The basic system design consists of two powered anthropomorphic legs, a power unit, associated actuators, sensors, and a control unit.

The device will be made of conductive organic polymers which have already proven to be successful in stimulating muscle and nerve tissue. After developing the technology to suit the needs of this project, it will be tested in animal models. If these runs are successful, it could result in clinical trials.

Exoskeletons a suit that has different pressure sensors that when given weight will help support the lower legs and feet in walking.

Electrical engineers are addressing the sensation issue by creating stretchable materials embedded with a dense network of sensors made of ultrathin gold and silicon. The network of sensors are arranged in a serpentine shape that can be elongated if stretched. The sensors can detect heat, pressure and moisture. Even though there are 400 sensors per millimeter there needs to be much more advancement before the electrical engineers can match the sensation created by natural skin. Sensation mimicking is just one problem, but the bigger problem that still needs to be addressed is to create connections to the human nervous system so that the wearer of the prosthetic can truly feel what is going on. Currently, there is a big gap as to what can be conveyed to the brain.

With the help of those models, organizations like National Institute or activity Safety and Health (NIOSH), have developed equations and pointers styled to assist practitioners and engineers design workplaces that square measure less problematic for workers”. To check the accuracy and preciseness of devices promising to scale back the forces and moments on form, like body part spine or lower back, there's the requirement to watch body movements and analyzing the obtained knowledge. Medical literature will be found regarding the employment of accelerometers in medical specialty applications to check body movements. Many analysis teams face the matter of movement analysis with the aim of modeling human movements and for rehabilitation or graphic illustration functions. 2 widespread systems square measure used for the analysis of form movements that square measure portrayed as

This idea will be made possible using a weight sensor, more specifically, a load cell. A load cell is a device that is used to convert pressure into an electrical signal whose magnitude is directly proportional to the force being measured (Load Cell). As the athletes hands go onto a platform the load cell would send an electrical signal to the machine telling it that there is someone on that platform. As they push off the platform and the weight goes away it will send another signal telling the machine to send another platform

Kinematic data were collected by use of 3D Gait system. The 3D Gait system has the capacity to collect 250 records per second and with the capability to record all joint angles in the frontal, transverse and sagittal planeat at 250 Hz sampling frequency. The research made use of three different cameras and retroreflective markers. Cameras were placed behind the treadmill at approximately 1-2 meters and were adjusted to the right height.

In this arrangement, the active area is a grid with dimensions of 48 sensors by 288 sensors, placed on 1.27cm centers. The 3.66 or 4.88m walkway is portable, can be laid over any flat surface, requires minimum setup and collection time, and does not require the placement of any devices on the patient. There are mats available in different dimensions where the active area is lesser or more depending on the length of the mat. As the patient ambulates across the walkway, the system captures the relative arrangement, the geometry and the applied pressure, of each footfall as a function of time. The application software controls the functionality of the walkway, processes the raw data into footfall patterns, and computes the temporal and spatial parameters. The software stores each walk by patient and supports a variety of reports and analyses. The system can be utilized to test patients with or without shoes and assistive

The Lokomat is a robotic gait training device that uses robotic legs to guide patients through walking movements on a treadmill, an important gross motor skill that many learn in their childhood. The device is able to support the patient’s weight so they are able to move their legs and practice walking. As therapy continues, the amount of guidance and support of the body weight is decreased so that the patient begins to try and replicate regular walking. The Lokomat includes a sensor that is connected and provides feedback on the amount of force the patient is using (Wang 2016). Researchers are currently trying to evaluate the effectiveness of using robotic gait training programs to enhance walking abilities of patients with neurological disorders

A computer is positioned on the back of the suit (thus the back of the patient) and receives data from 15 sensors to control leg movements (). For individuals with spinal cord injuries, the signals from the brain are not able to reach the legs due to an obstruction or disconnect preventing successful nerve communication. The Ekso’s very own “smart crutches” provide an alternate route of brain to leg synchronization. As the patient moves his or her arms, the smart crutches trigger a signal in the bionic knees and hips initiating a step. All of this is done with the assistance of the physical therapist. Their job is to evaluate each individual's status, ability, progress, and comfort with the Ekso. The Ekso has two distinctive settings. The first setting is fixed assist, which is optimal for patients who may be completely paralyzed or severely weakened. In this setting, “each leg of the suit can contribute a fixed amount of power to help patients complete steps in a specified amount of time ()”. The other setting is designed to help patients with spinal injuries that still allow for some nerve signaling to be transferred from the brain to the lower body. This setting is called adaptive assist and is utilized when a patient is ready to start retraining and strengthening his or her lower extremities. “Clinicians can augment their patients’ strength and adjust to produce a smooth and consistent gait ().” Essentially, the Ekso is an electronic version of a human nervous system. The computer is the”brain” of the operation that transmits electrical signals much like the biological signals transmitted in

Anatomical and tracking markers are used in infra-red light motion analysis to measure 3D displacement of tracking markers attached to Abnormal loading of the knee can cause knee joint injuries or disease. Tracking markers are placed on each thigh and shank laterally by adhesive coban tape to reflect infra-red light for tracking. Infra-red light is emitted by 9 cameras which are also responsible for detection of the reflected infra-red light. Anatomical markers are used as reference point for anatomical calibration by using a marked pointer. Anatomical markers are typically placed at the medial and lateral epicondyle gap. 3 bony landmarks can be marked to establish a segmental body axis system. Coordinates of the 3 segmental bony landmarks to tracking marker axis systems within the global coordinate system can then be related together. By assuming rigid body, fixed bony axis systems are then developed in relation to the tracking marker axis systems. Finally, during the walking trial, position of tracking markers relative to the global coordinate system can be measured.