Study of human-machine physical interface for wearable mobility assist devices
Laurent Levesque1, Marc Doumit1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ottawa, 161 Louis-Pasteur, Colonel By Hall, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
Medical Engineering & Physics
|May 26, 2020
Summary
This study optimized knee orthosis design for better comfort and performance in wearable mobility assist devices. Findings reveal how interface adjustments improve user experience and device effectiveness for the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Technology
- Human-Machine Interaction
Background:
- Decreased mobility significantly impacts the quality of life for the elderly.
- Wearable mobility assist devices offer a solution but are limited by physical discomfort.
- Optimizing the human-machine interface is crucial for effective device use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively characterize the physical interface of knee orthoses.
- To advance the performance of wearable mobility assist devices.
- To identify optimal design parameters for knee joint orthoses.
Main Methods:
- Designed, fabricated, and instrumented a modular knee orthosis testing apparatus.
- Utilized a force mapping apparatus and motion capture system for data acquisition.
- Evaluated performance based on adjustable interface parameters and knee extension moment.
Main Results:
- Key design variables like interface position, geometry, and compliancy significantly impacted device performance.
- Interface hard-shell position and degree of freedom also influenced device effectiveness.
- Varied impacts were observed across different tested parameters.
Conclusions:
- Understanding user-device interface mechanisms is essential for improving orthosis design.
- Optimized orthosis parameters can enhance the effectiveness and prolonged usage of wearable mobility assist devices.
- This research provides a foundation for developing more comfortable and high-performing assistive devices.
