Development of walking assist system using lightweight spatial mechanism without physical restraint

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24560153
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Design engineering/Machine functional elements/Tribology
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: Nango Jun 山形大学, 理工学研究科, 准教授 (50250957)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 平面リンク機構 / 脚部動作 / 歩行 / 1入力

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Applicant simulated and manufactured a skeletal mechanism for a waking assist device mechanism driven with one input by way of trial. It was confirmed that a walking motion can be generated by 1st and 2nd experimental model for one leg assisted. 3rd experimental model was manufactured to be driven by user's own arm for both legs assisted in the case of the static walking. In the 3rd experimental model, because the fluctuating range of center of gravity was made be small, the user was able to keep the balance easily. But the walking motion when using the device seemed to be a constrained manner. It was confirmed that the load of the physical restraint would be reduced by using the saddle, the muscular active mass in specific part is reduced by using the device. The future issue is that investigating the manner to adapt the change in the gait between the static and dynamic walks when using the assist device.

Free Research Field

工学