Title
Terrain Feature Estimation Method for a Lower Limb Exoskeleton Using Kinematic Analysis and Center of Pressure.
Abstract
While controlling a lower limb exoskeleton providing walking assistance to wearers, the walking terrain is an important factor that should be considered for meeting performance and safety requirements. Therefore, we developed a method to estimate the slope and elevation using the contact points between the limb exoskeleton and ground. We used the center of pressure as a contact point on the ground and calculated the location of the contact points on the walking terrain based on kinematic analysis of the exoskeleton. Then, a set of contact points collected from each step during walking was modeled as the plane that represents the surface of the walking terrain through the least-square method. Finally, by comparing the normal vectors of the modeled planes for each step, features of the walking terrain were estimated. We analyzed the estimation accuracy of the proposed method through experiments on level ground, stairs, and a ramp. Classification using the estimated features showed recognition accuracy higher than 95% for all experimental motions. The proposed method approximately analyzed the movement of the exoskeleton on various terrains even though no prior information on the walking terrain was provided. The method can enable exoskeleton systems to actively assist walking in various environments.
Year
DOI
Venue
2019
10.3390/s19204418
SENSORS
Keywords
Field
DocType
walking terrain,terrain estimation,terrain classification,kinematic analysis,center of pressure,lower limb exoskeleton
Terrain classification,Computer vision,Kinematics,Lower limb,Terrain,Electronic engineering,Center of pressure (fluid mechanics),Exoskeleton,Artificial intelligence,Elevation,Engineering,Stairs
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
19
20
1424-8220
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
0
Authors
6
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Myounghoon Shim100.34
Jong In Han200.34
Ho Seon Choi300.34
Seong Min Ha400.34
Junghoon Kim513.44
Yoon Su Baek6113.40