Human-in-the-loop optimization of exoskeleton assistance during walking

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 356; no. 6344; pp. 1280 - 1284
• Main Authors: Zhang, Juanjuan, Fiers, Pieter, Witte, Kirby A., Jackson, Rachel W., Poggensee, Katherine L., Atkeson, Christopher G., Collins, Steven H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 23.06.2017; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Adjustment; Ankle; Biomechanical Phenomena; Calorimetry; Devices; Energy consumption; Energy Metabolism; Exoskeleton; Exoskeleton Device - standards; Exoskeletons; Human performance; Humans; Individual Needs; Machine Learning; Metabolism; Models, Biological; Muscles; Optimization; Prostheses; Prosthesis Fitting - instrumentation; Prosthesis Fitting - methods; Prosthesis Fitting - standards; Prosthetics; Running; Torque; Walking; Walking - physiology

Exoskeletons and active prostheses promise to enhance human mobility, but few have succeeded. Optimizing device characteristics on the basis of measured human performance could lead to improved designs. We have developed a method for identifying the exoskeleton assistance that minimizes human energy...