• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.399-415
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance training with and without whole-body vibration(WBV) on the biomechanical properties of the plantarflexor in the elderly women (>60 yrs., n=35). Thirty-five volunteers were randomly assigned to a resistance training with WBV group (RVT, n=14), a resistance training without WBV (RT, n=11), and a non-training control group (CON, n=10). The RVT and the RT groups participated in the training sessions three times a week for 8 weeks, followed by a 4-week detraining period. The CON group was instructed to refrain from any type of resistance training. To assess strength and activation of the plantarflexor muscles, maximum isometric ankle plantarflexion torque and muscle activation of the triceps surae muscles were measured using dynamometry, twitch interpolation technique and electromyography at four different ankle joint angles. Also, the lower extremity function was assessed by vertical jumping. The measurements were performed prior to, 2 and 8 weeks after the training and after a 4-week detraining period. Following the 8-week training sessions, an increase in the isometric plantarflexion strength was found to be greater for the RVT compared with the RT group (p<.05). Muscle inhibition was significantly decreased after training than before training only for the RVT (p<.05). Following the detraining period, a decrease in isometric plantarflexors strength and a increases in muscle inhibition were significantly less in the RVT compared with the RT group. In conclusion, the exercise with WBV is a feasible training modality for the elderly and seems to have a boosting effect when used with conventional resistance training.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.343-351
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects in the muscle function following 8-week dead-lift training with Whole-body Vibration(WBV) in rehabilitation for sports players. Method : Twenty young sports players. Each subjects were randomly assigned to a resistance training with Whole-body vibration group(TG, n=10), a resistance training without Whole-body vibration group(CG, N=10). The measurements which physical fitness test and joint torque test were performed before the randomization and after the 4-week and 8-week. The WBV group performed the dynamic Dead-lift exercise on a vibration platform during one minute. The CG group performed the equal training without vibration. The WBV and CON group repeated 5 set and trained two times weekly for 8-weeks. Paired t-test was used to test for differences between the groups at baseline and after 4-weeks and 8-Weeks. And independent t-test was used to test for differences between the groups at TG and CG. All analyses were executed using SPSS software 18.0. The level of significance was set at p<.050. Results : Following the 8-Weeks training sessions, an increase in the back-muscle strength was found to be greater for the TG compared with the CG group(p<.05). Muscle endurance was significantly decreased after training than before training only for the CG(p<.05). Isometric Hip/Lumber Extension/Flextion measurement was found to be significantly greater for the TG compared with the CG group(p<.05). The finding indicates that WBV effects as an efficient training stimulus to enhance muscle function by facilitating neural control trail. Following muscle activation in motor unit synchronization of the co-contraction of the muscles. Conclusion : The results imply that the WBV training may have enhanced muscle function in rehabilitation for sports players.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1129-1136
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• 2010

Damper springs in a drive-line absorb the impulsive torque generated when a lock-up clutch is connected directly, instead of via a fluid coupling. Design optimization and finite element analysis were performed to improve the shock- and vibration-absorption capacity of the lock-up clutch. For this purpose, a multi-body dynamics model was developed by including the main parts of a vehicle, such as an engine with a clutch, a transmission, drive shafts and wheels, and a whole mass of a vehicle. The spring constants were selected so that resonance of a system could be avoided. Damper springs were optimized on the basis of the spring constants, impulsive torques, compressed angles, spring counts, fatigue constraints, etc. Topology optimization was performed for three plates with the damper springs. The compliance was set up as an objective function, and volume fraction was fixed below 0.3. A new shape for the plates was proposed on the basis of the topology result.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.1029-1037
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• 2008

When a humanoid robot pushes an object with its force, it is essential to adequately control its posture so as to maximize the surplus torque far all joints. For such purpose, this study proposes a method to find an optimal posture of a humanoid robot using a genetic algorithm in such a way that the surplus torque for all joints is maximized. In this study, pushing motion of an 18-DOF humanoid robot is considered. When the robot takes a cooperative motion to push an object, the palms and soles are assumed to be fixed at the object and ground respectively, and are subjected to sense the reaction force from the object and the ground. Then, the torques for all joints are calculated and reflected to fitness function of the genetic algorithm. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, a number of simulations with different fitness functions are carried out. The simulation result shows that the proposed method can be adopted to find optimized posture in cooperative motion of a humanoid robot.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.221-225
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical effects of an application of whole body vibration during strengthening exercise. Every participant performed four weeks exercise program using general leg-press versus vibrating leg-press. Participants did legpress exercise three sets of 25 repetitions with the load of 25 percent of 1RM during first week, three sets of 20 repetitions with 40 percent of 1RM during second week, three sets of 15 repetitions with 60 percents of 1RM during third week, and three sets of 15 repetitions with 80 percent of 1RM during last fourth week. The vibration(25Hz, 5mm) was applied only to the vibration exercise group. A three dimensional virtual lower extremity model for one of subject and virtual leg-press model were generated. The knee extensor muscle forces were analyzed using the virtual model and the knee joint torque(maximum extension torque) was measured using an isokinetic device. Calculated muscle forces were smaller in vibrating leg-press exercise than in general leg-press exercise. An increase of the maximum knee extension joint torque was 2.14 times larger approximately after the four week vibration leg-press exercise program was performed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1026-1034
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to verify the validation of effect on improvement of muscle strength unbalance according to exercise load deviation during rowing exercise. We performed evaluation of muscular activity and joint torque before the test. We recruited twenty subjects who one side's muscle strength is bigger in more 20% than other side. Subjects divided two groups. One is dominant left side and the other was dominant right side. Subjects performed rowing exercise in electric load deviation rowing equipment (Robo.gym, Humonic Co., Ltd., Daegu, Korea). Exercise performed four sets a day including 25 times a set, and three days a week. Measurements consist of evaluation of muscular activity and joint torque. Exercise load deviation adapted that different value of muscle strength in both arms multiplied 1RM% and added 1RM 50%. The results in adapted load deviation showed that the differences of maximal peak torque in 22.75% were getting increase significantly during exercise in 5.72%. This interpreted that rowing exercise with loading deviation types could provide muscle strength and muscular endurance exercise in same time for balance. Our study found out that loading deviation could provide muscle strength and muscular endurance exercise for improving muscle unbalance.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2020

For the requirement of accurate tracking control and the safety of physical human-robot interaction, torque control is basically desirable for humanoid robots. Because of the complexity of humanoid robot dynamics, the TDC (time-delay control) is practical because it does not require a dynamic model. However, there occurs a considerable error due to discontinuous non-linearities. To solve this problem, the TDC-FLC (fuzzy logic compensator) is applied to humanoid robots. The applied controller contains three factors: a TDE (time-delay estimation) factor, a desired error dynamic factor, and FLC to suppress the TDE error. The TDC-FLC is easy to execute because it does not require complicated humanoid dynamic calculations and the heuristic fuzzy control rules are intuitive. TDC-FLC is implemented on the whole body of a humanoid, not on biped legs even though it is performed by a virtual humanoid robot. The simulation results show the validity of the TDC-FLC for humanoid robots.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.661-666
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to measure the rotational vibration, radial vibration, and axial vibration for the helical gear with the wide face width relative to the whole depth. For this purpose, the experimental apparatus is designed and manufactured. The gear vibration of each direction is measured by the accelerometers attached at the gear body. As a result, meshing frequency and second harmonic component are greatly contributed to the gear vibration. As the rotational speed is increased, meshing frequency component has the more significant peak than the second harmonic one. However, the doubled torque decreases the vibration magnitude on the contrary and changes order of the vibration magnitude in each direction.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.183-192
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• 2016

Generating motion of center of mass for biped robots is a challenging issue since biped robots can easily lose balance due to limited contact area between foot and ground. In this paper, we propose force control method to generate high-speed motion of the center of mass for horizontal direction without losing balancing condition. Contact consistent multi-body dynamics of the robot is used to calculate force for horizontal direction of the center of mass considering balance. The calculated force is applied for acceleration or deceleration of the center of mass to generate high speed motion. The linear inverted pendulum model is used to estimate motion of the center of mass and the estimated motion is used to select either maximum or minimum force to stop at goal position. The proposed method is verified by experiments using 12-DOF torque controlled human sized legged robot.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the analysis on exercise effect of basic physical fitness, flexibility and muscle function using electric horseback riding machine. Subjects were ten males and ten females who were 20th aged young adults. They exercised every 45-min a day. Horse riding exercise has progressed 3-days a week till 4-weeks. We measured contents of basic physical fitness, flexibility and joint torque in lumbar. The results showed that contents of human body effect were higher than before exercise. We thought that stimulated by 3-D movement in horseback riding exercise instrument could be activated joints and muscles with the unused generally This continuous movement could reduce tonus of muscle and relax stiff muscles. horseback riding have significant effect with whole body exercise, also it could provide efficient exercise for the elder and disabled person.