Research and Experimental Testing of a Remotely Controlled Ankle Rehabilitation Exoskeleton Prototype

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• High demand for remote rehabilitation solutions, especially for patients with musculoskeletal injuries.
• Exoskeletons for lower extremity rehabilitation are crucial for restoring motor functions.
• Mobile robotic complexes offer convenient and effective at-home therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a prototype exoskeleton for the ankle joint.
• To experimentally study the remote control module of the exoskeleton.
• To integrate a new exoskeleton design with a mobile wireless communication platform.

Main Methods:

• Development of a prototype ankle exoskeleton.
• Integration with a mobile wireless communication platform for remote control.
• Functional testing of the remote control module and exoskeleton positioning.

Main Results:

• Root mean square error (RMSE) of 23.9° for dorsiflexion/plantarflexion and 12.8° for inversion/eversion.
• Average signal transmission delay of approximately 100 ms.
• Packet loss of 0.6% over a 10 m remote control distance.

Conclusions:

• The developed system is technically feasible for remote control up to 10 m.
• The mobile, autonomous, and user-friendly exoskeleton is suitable for laboratory functional verification.
• This system supports remote rehabilitation and testing of robotic modules.