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Mechanical design and trajectory planning of a lower limb rehabilitation robot with a variable workspace

Wang, Hongbo; Feng, Yongfei; Yu, Hongnian; Wang, Zhenghui; Vladareanuv, Victor; Du, Yaxin

Authors

Hongbo Wang

Yongfei Feng

Zhenghui Wang

Victor Vladareanuv

Yaxin Du



Abstract

The early phase of extremity rehabilitation training has high potential impact for stroke patients. However, most of the lower limb rehabilitation robots in hospitals are proposed just suitable for patients at the middle or later recovery stage. This article investigates a new sitting/lying multi-joint lower limb rehabilitation robot. It can be used at all recovery stages, including the initial stage. Based on man–machine engineering and the innovative design for mechanism, the leg length of the lower limb rehabilitation robot is automatically adjusted to fit patients with different heights. The lower limb rehabilitation robot is a typical human–machine system, and the limb safety of the patient is the most important principle to be considered in its design. The hip joint rotation ranges are different in people’s sitting and lying postures. Different training postures cannot make the training workspace unique. Besides the leg lengths and joint rotation angles varied with different patients, the idea of variable workspace of the lower limb rehabilitation robot is first proposed. Based on the variable workspace, three trajectory planning methods are developed. In order to verify the trajectory planning methods, an experimental study has been conducted. Theoretical and actual curves of the hip rotation, knee rotation, and leg mechanism end point motion trajectories are obtained for three unimpaired subjects. Most importantly, a clinical trial demonstrated the safety and feasibility of the proposed lower limb rehabilitation robot.

Citation

Wang, H., Feng, Y., Yu, H., Wang, Z., Vladareanuv, V., & Du, Y. (2018). Mechanical design and trajectory planning of a lower limb rehabilitation robot with a variable workspace. International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems, 15(3), Article 172988141877685. https://doi.org/10.1177/1729881418776855

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 22, 2018
Online Publication Date May 17, 2018
Publication Date 2018-05
Deposit Date Jun 22, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jun 27, 2023
Journal International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems
Print ISSN 1729-8806
Electronic ISSN 1729-8814
Publisher InTech
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue 3
Article Number 172988141877685
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1729881418776855
Keywords Mechanical engineering, path planning, rehabilitation robot, lower limb, variable workspace
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2881193

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