Individualization of exosuit assistance based on measured muscle dynamics during versatile walking.

ABSTRACT: Variability in human walking depends on individual physiology, environment, and walking task. Consequently, in the field of wearable robotics, there is a clear need for customizing assistance to the user and task. Here, we developed a muscle-based assistance (MBA) strategy wherein exosuit assistance was derived from direct measurements of individuals’ muscle dynamics during specific tasks. We recorded individuals’ soleus muscle dynamics using ultrasonographic imaging during multiple walking speeds and inclines. From these prerecorded images, we estimated the force produced by the soleus through inefficient concentric contraction and designed the exosuit assistance profile to be proportional to that estimated force. We evaluated this approach with a bilateral ankle exosuit at each measured

SUBMITTER: Nuckols RW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9052350 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature