Title
Effects of Passive Ankle Exoskeleton on Human Energy Expenditure: Pilot Evaluation.
Abstract
Exoskeletons can be utilized for rehabilitation purposes as well as for assistance and augmentation of motion of patients with disabilities, workers, elderly and even healthy people. Compared to powered solutions, unpowered passive exoskeletons have been shown to have significantly higher chances of end user acceptance, because of simpler design, no complex electronics and potentially lower cost. In this paper we present the results of a flat walking test using an unpowered passive ankle exoskeleton. Important exoskeleton aspects such as ergonomics, comfort, and robust design are outlined and areas for improvement are highlighted. The paper also presents the results of the evaluation of the exoskeleton device in a pilot study, where its physiological effects are assessed for four participants via measurements of oxygen consumption and EMG muscle activity during five 10-min walking sessions under different conditions. Results show that significant metabolic cost reduction can only be achieved with a proper mechanism spring selection.
Year
DOI
Venue
2016
10.1007/978-3-319-49058-8_53
ADVANCES IN ROBOT DESIGN AND INTELLIGENT CONTROL
Keywords
DocType
Volume
Passive exoskeleton,Passive orthosis,Metabolic cost,Efficient walking,Energy cost reduction
Conference
540
ISSN
Citations 
PageRank 
2194-5357
0
0.34
References 
Authors
1
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Miha Dezman100.68
Tadej Debevec2132.42
Jan Babic312819.25
Andrej Gams438529.54