• 로봇학회논문지
• /
• 제8권1호
• /
• pp.8-19
• /
• 2013

One of the important issues for structural and electrical specifications in developing a robot is to determine lengths of links and motor specifications, which need to be appropriate to the purpose of robot. These issues become more critical for a gait rehabilitation robot, since a patient wears the robot. Prior to developing an entire gait rehabilitation robot, designing of a 1DOF assistive knee joint of the robot is considered in this paper. Human gait motions were used to determine an allowable range of knee joint that was rotated with a linear type actuator (ball-screw type) and links. The lengths of each link were determined by using an optimization process, minimizing the stroke of actuator and the total energy (kinetic and potential energy). Kinetic analysis was performed in order to determine maximum rotational speed and maximum torque of the motor for tracking gait trajectory properly. The prototype of 1 DOF assistive knee joint was built and examined with a impedance controller.

• 로봇학회논문지
• /
• 제14권4호
• /
• pp.318-325
• /
• 2019

NREX, an upper limb exoskeleton robot, was developed at the National Rehabilitation Center to assist in the upper limb movements of subjects with weak muscular strength and control ability of the upper limbs, such as those with hemiplegia. For the free movement of the shoulder of the existing NREX, three passive joints were added, which improved its wearability. For the flexion/extension movement and internal/external rotation movement of the shoulder of the robot, the ball lock pin is used to fix or rotate the passive joint. The force and torque between a human and a robot were measured and analyzed in a reaching movement for four targets using a six-axis force/torque sensor for 20 able-bodied subjects. The addition of two passive joints to allow the user to rotate the shoulder can confirm that the average force of the upper limb must be 31.6% less and the torque must be 48.9% less to perform the movement related to the axis of rotation.

• 로봇학회논문지
• /
• 제18권4호
• /
• pp.376-384
• /
• 2023

In this paper, we introduce an upper extremity rehabilitation robot, NREH (NRC End-effector based Rehabilitation arm at Home). Through NREH, stroke survivors could continuously exercise their upper extremities at home. NREH allows a user to hold the handle of the end-effector of the robot arm. NREH is a end-effector-based robot that moves the arm on a two-dimensional plane, but the tilt angle can be adjusted to mimic a movement similar to that in a three-dimensional space. Depending on the tilting angle, it is possible to perform customized exercises that can adjust the difficulty for each user. The user can sit down facing the robot and perform exercises such as arm reaching. When the user sits 90 degrees sideways, the user can also exercise their arms on a plane parallel to the sagittal plane. NREH was designed to be as simple as possible considering its use at home. By applying error augmentation, the exercise effect can be increased, and assistance force or resistance force can be applied as needed. Using an encoder on two actuators and a force/torque sensor on the end-effector, NREH can continuously collect and analyze the user's movement data.

• 전자공학회논문지SC
• /
• 제37권6호
• /
• pp.50-63
• /
• 2000

본 논문에서는 소프트 컴퓨팅 기법을 이용한 새로운 근전도 신호 패턴 분류 방법을 제안한다. 재활 로봇시스템에서 기존에 사용되었던 여러 가지 입력 장치(음성, 레이저 포인터, 키패드, 3차원 입력기 등)에 비해 근전도 신호를 이용한 방식이 가지는 장점을 서술한다. 기존의 근전도 신호 분류 방법의 문제점인 사용자 의존성을 줄이기 위해 제안한 사용자 독립적인 특징 선택 방법에 대해 상술한다. 선택된 특징 집합을 이용하여 퍼지 패턴 분류기 및 퍼지 최대-최소 신경망을 구성하여 학습 전(퍼지 패턴 분류기)과 학습 후(퍼지 최대-최소 신경망)에 각각 83%와 90%의 분류 성공률을 얻어 제안된 방법의 유용성을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 한국기계가공학회지
• /
• 제19권7호
• /
• pp.41-51
• /
• 2020

This paper presents the development of a robotic system for rehabilitation of the trunk's ability to maintain postural control under different balance conditions. The system, developed with extensive input from rehabilitation and biomedical engineering experts, consists of a seat mounted on a robotic mechanism capable of moving it with four degrees of freedom (3 rotational and 1 translational). The seat surface has built in instrumentation to gauge the movements of the user's center of pressure (COP) and it can be moved either to track the movements of the COP or according to operator given commands. The system allows two types of leg support. A ground mounted footrest allows participation of legs in postural control while a seat connected footrest constrains the leg movement and limits their involvement in postural control. The design evolution over several prototypes is presented and computer aided structural analysis is used to determine the feasibility of the designed components. The system is pilot tested by a stroke patient and is determined to have potential for use as a trunk rehabilitation tool. Future works involve more detailed studies to evaluate the effects of using this system and to determine its efficacy as a rehabilitation tool.

• 재활복지공학회논문지
• /
• 제8권3호
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2014

본 논문은 경사로에 위치하는 Mobile Walker의 안전성 확보를 위한 직진성 향상알고리즘을 제안한다. Mobile Walker는 경사면주행 시 로봇의 무게와 경사도에 의한 외력으로 인해 경로 이탈을 하게 된다. 이를 보정하기 위해 본 논문에서는 노면의 기울기에 따른 외력을 추정하고, 이를 모터출력에 가감하는 제어기를 사용하였다. 또한 사용자가 입력하는 목표 회전각속도와 로봇의 회전각속도와의 비교를 통해 각 구동축에 가중치를 인가하는 알고리즘을 사용하였다. 제안한 보정 제어기를 적용한 결과, 경사면 이동 시 이탈거리는 무보정 실험의 경우 발산하지만 경사로 보정 알고리즘을 적용하였을 경우에는 이탈거리가 최대 10cm 이내로 안정적인 주행을 하는 것을 확인할 수 있었으며, 이탈거리 변화율 또한 1m 이후 안정화되어 더 이상의 변화가 발생하지 않는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 재활복지공학회논문지
• /
• 제3권1호
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2009

본 조사는 휠체어를 사용하는 장애인이 차량을 탑승할 때 휠체어 수납에 대한 불편함을 파악하여, 향후 관련 제품 개발에 개념설계를 하고자 실시하였다. 연구는 수동휠체어를 사용하고 있으며, 자가 운전을 할 수 있는 장애인 50명을 대상으로 직접 면담하는 설문조사 방식으로 실시하였다. 그 결과 설문에 참여한 88%의 장애인이 차량에 휠체어를 수납할 수 있는 보조 장치의 개발이 필요하다고 응답하였다. 이러한 장치로써 차량 트렁크에서 로봇팔이 차량의 운전석 문까지 나와서 휠체어를 트렁크에 수납하는 방법을 가장 선호하였다.

• 한국의류학회지
• /
• 제44권6호
• /
• pp.1107-1119
• /
• 2020

This study analyzed a subject's body reaction and subjective sensation when wearing a gait-assistive rehabilitation robot. The research method measured skin and clothing surface temperatures for 'seating-standing' and 'walking in place' exercises after wearing a gait-assistive rehabilitation robot. In addition, subjective sensation and satisfaction were evaluated on a 7-point Likert scale. The study results showed that the average skin temperature during exercise while wearing the gait-assistive rehabilitation robot was within a comfortable range. However, during the 'seating-standing' exercise, the skin temperature was slightly lowered. Additionally, the clothing surface temperature tended to be lower than the pre-exercise temperature after all exercises. The subjective sensation evaluation results showed that the wear comfort of the waist part was low during mobility/activity. In addition, an overall improvement in the wear comfort of the robot is necessary. The short-time movement of wearing and walking in the gait-assistive rehabilitation robot did not interfere with the thermal comfort of the body. However, the robot needs to be ergonomically improved in consideration of the long wearing time along with improved material that to satisfy overall wearing comfort.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
• /
• 제18권4호
• /
• pp.447-456
• /
• 1997

장애자나 노약자가 이동형의 재활보조 시스템을 조이스틱을 이용하여 직접 조작할 경우, 정상인과 달리 조이스틱 제어시 떨림이나 순간적인 오조작 (예를들면 조이스틱으로 손에서 놓치는 경우)이 자주 발생 하게 된다. 이러한 오조작이 그대로 전달될 경우 이동형 재활 보조시스템의 진동잉나 오동작을 초래하고, 특히 장애자나 노약자의안전성의 측면에서 문제로 대두된다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 이러한 문제점을 해결하기 위하여 장애자의 오조작 및 주위 환경과의 충돌을 방지하기 위하여 초음파 센서를 사용하여 물체와 이동 로봇의 접근 정도를 측정하고 이에 따라 이동 로보트가 물체에 접근하는 것을 방해할 수 있도록 모터부착형 조이스틱에 토오크를 걸어주는 조이스틱을 사용한 힘 반향 주행 기법을 제안하였다. 제안될 힘 반향 기법의 유효성을 입증하기 위하여 원통형의 전방 장애물과 복도의 벽면을 가상으로 만들고 이를 따라 조이스틱을 조작하여 주행실험을 하였으며, 그 결과 조작자의 숙련도의 차이는 있었으나 장애물 정보를 조이스틱을 통하여 조작자에게 전달됨을 확인함으로써 조작성능과 장애물에 대한 안전성이 향상됨을 알수 있었다.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.72-82
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study used a mixed methods research design in an attempt to verify the effects of robot-assisted rehabilitation on the gait ability of stroke patients with hemiplegia, and thereby further understand the benefits and challenges of stroke patients' experiences relying on robot-assisted rehabilitation. Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed methods study design was used in order to combine both quantitative and qualitative data. For the quantitative data collection, a total of 30 stroke patients with hemiplegia were recruited from one rehabilitation hospital. Qualitative data were collected through individual interviews using semi-structured questionnaires for a group of 15 patients who were currently undergoing robot-assisted rehabilitation. The data were analyzed through qualitative content analysis. Results: As a result of the quantitative analysis, there were significant differences between the two groups in terms of daily living activity patterns, total number of steps, and average walking speed. As a result of the qualitative analysis, the four main themes derived consisted of, 'curiosity about the usage of robot-assisted rehabilitation,' 'pleasure experienced while using the robots,' 'insufficient information about robots,' and 'a lack of education about robot-assisted rehabilitation.' Conclusions: Robot-assisted rehabilitation had a significant effect on the walking ability of stroke patients with hemiplegia. Additionally, stroke patients with hemiplegia experienced difficulty during the course of their robot-assisted rehabilitation, due to a lack of sufficient information on correct usage techniques. These quantitative and qualitative findings could provide the basic foundation for the development of an educational program on robot-assisted rehabilitation.