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A Walker-Like Exoskeleton Could Reduce the Metabolic Cost of Walking

Zimmerman, Sloan M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471823060

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Mechanical Engineering.
Current robotic devices in the fields of physical therapy and task assistance are limited in their ability to act as research tools for understanding human biomechanics and human-device interactions. Often these devices are complex, making them harder to capture using computational models, which results in an inability to predict device behavior and improve upon the device’s design. Here, we consider a cart-like device that surrounds the user and provides assistive forces to the user through soft, spring connections. These adjustable soft connections improve the flexibility of the device. In order to evaluate device performance, healthy subjects were asked to walk on a treadmill at a constant walking speed. The cart was either free to move on the treadmill (untied cart) as a passive device, or was fixed to the treadmill’s front handrail (tied cart) to simulate a powered device. A statistically significant reduction in metabolic cost (p-value of 0.0015) was achieved by switching from normal walking to the tied (active) cart. We also developed a mathematical model of the person walking with the cart, which predicted that the active cart would decrease the metabolic cost of walking below normal unassisted walking. Ongoing work involves tuning the model for better quantitative trends, tuning the device for lower human costs, and refining a version of the device powered by a motorized wheel.
Manoj Srinivasan (Advisor)
Sandra Metzler (Advisor)
45 p.
Mechanical Engineering
metabolic; biomechanics; exoskeleton; walking

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zimmerman, S. M. (2016). A Walker-Like Exoskeleton Could Reduce the Metabolic Cost of Walking [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471823060

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zimmerman, Sloan. A Walker-Like Exoskeleton Could Reduce the Metabolic Cost of Walking. 2016. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471823060.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zimmerman, Sloan. "A Walker-Like Exoskeleton Could Reduce the Metabolic Cost of Walking." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471823060

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1471823060
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.