Estimation of the Continuous Walking Angle of Knee and Ankle (Talocrural Joint, Subtalar Joint) of a Lower-Limb Exoskeleton Robot Using a Neural Network. 2021

Taehoon Lee, and Inwoo Kim, and Soo-Hong Lee
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea.

A lower-limb exoskeleton robot identifies the wearer's walking intention and assists the walking movement through mechanical force; thus, it is important to be able to identify the wearer's movement in real-time. Measurement of the angle of the knee and ankle can be difficult in the case of patients who cannot move the lower-limb joint properly. Therefore, in this study, the knee angle as well as the angles of the talocrural and subtalar joints of the ankle were estimated during walking by applying the neural network to two inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors attached to the thigh and shank. First, for angle estimation, the gyroscope and accelerometer data of the IMU sensor were obtained while walking at a treadmill speed of 1 to 2.5 km/h while wearing an exoskeleton robot. The weights according to each walking speed were calculated using a neural network algorithm programmed in MATLAB software. Second, an appropriate weight was selected according to the walking speed through the IMU data, and the knee angle and the angles of the talocrural and subtalar joints of the ankle were estimated in real-time during walking through a feedforward neural network using the IMU data received in real-time. We confirmed that the angle estimation error was accurately estimated as 1.69° ± 1.43 (mean absolute error (MAE) ± standard deviation (SD)) for the knee joint, 1.29° ± 1.01 for the talocrural joint, and 0.82° ± 0.69 for the subtalar joint. Therefore, the proposed algorithm has potential for gait rehabilitation as it addresses the difficulty of estimating angles of lower extremity patients using torque and EMG sensors.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007719 Knee Joint A synovial hinge connection formed between the bones of the FEMUR; TIBIA; and PATELLA. Superior Tibiofibular Joint,Joint, Knee,Joint, Superior Tibiofibular,Knee Joints,Superior Tibiofibular Joints,Tibiofibular Joint, Superior
D005684 Gait Manner or style of walking. Gaits
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000067190 Exoskeleton Device Device designed to wear externally to support muscular skeletal system in various movements such as RANGE OF MOTIONS; WEIGHT-BEARING; GAIT; and LOCOMOTION. Robotic Exoskeleton,Device, Exoskeleton,Devices, Exoskeleton,Exoskeleton Devices,Exoskeleton, Robotic,Exoskeletons, Robotic,Robotic Exoskeletons
D000842 Ankle The region of the lower limb between the FOOT and the LEG. Tarsus,Regio tarsalis,Ankles
D000843 Ankle Joint The joint that is formed by the inferior articular and malleolar articular surfaces of the TIBIA; the malleolar articular surface of the FIBULA; and the medial malleolar, lateral malleolar, and superior surfaces of the TALUS. Ankle Syndesmosis,Articulatio talocruralis,Distal Tibiofibular Joint,Inferior Tibiofibular Joint,Talocrural Joint,Tibiofibular Ankle Syndesmosis,Tibiofibular Syndesmosis,Ankle Joints,Ankle Syndesmoses,Ankle Syndesmosis, Tibiofibular,Distal Tibiofibular Joints,Inferior Tibiofibular Joints,Joint, Ankle,Joints, Ankle,Syndesmosis, Ankle,Talocrural Joints,Tibiofibular Ankle Syndesmoses,Tibiofibular Joint, Distal,Tibiofibular Syndesmoses
D001696 Biomechanical Phenomena The properties, processes, and behavior of biological systems under the action of mechanical forces. Biomechanics,Kinematics,Biomechanic Phenomena,Mechanobiological Phenomena,Biomechanic,Biomechanic Phenomenas,Phenomena, Biomechanic,Phenomena, Biomechanical,Phenomena, Mechanobiological,Phenomenas, Biomechanic
D012371 Robotics The application of electronic, computerized control systems to mechanical devices designed to perform human functions. Formerly restricted to industry, but nowadays applied to artificial organs controlled by bionic (bioelectronic) devices, like automated insulin pumps and other prostheses. Companion Robots,Humanoid Robots,Remote Operations (Robotics),Social Robots,Socially Assistive Robots,Telerobotics,Soft Robotics,Assistive Robot, Socially,Companion Robot,Humanoid Robot,Operation, Remote (Robotics),Operations, Remote (Robotics),Remote Operation (Robotics),Robot, Companion,Robot, Humanoid,Robot, Social,Robot, Socially Assistive,Robotic, Soft,Social Robot,Socially Assistive Robot,Soft Robotic
D013380 Subtalar Joint Formed by the articulation of the talus with the calcaneus. Talocalcaneal Joint,Joint, Subtalar,Joint, Talocalcaneal,Joints, Subtalar,Joints, Talocalcaneal,Subtalar Joints,Talocalcaneal Joints
D016138 Walking An activity in which the body advances at a slow to moderate pace by moving the feet in a coordinated fashion. This includes recreational walking, walking for fitness, and competitive race-walking. Ambulation

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