Metabolically efficient walking assistance using optimized timed forces at the waist

University of Nebraska at Omaha - Department of Biomechanics - relied on COSMED K5 to measure the metabolic cost of walking with a robotic waist tether.

The metabolic rate during walking can be minimized by providing assistance at the waist of individuals undergoing physical therapy.

By focusing on the center of mass of an individual, the waist, Antonellis et al. developed a robotic tether system that can apply assistive forward forces with optimized magnitude and timing.

The researchers shown that providing assistance early in the step cycle can reduce the metabolic rate by almost half in healthy adults. It is possible to reduce the metabolic rate of healthy participants by 48% with a greater efficiency ratio of metabolic cost reduction per unit of net aiding work compared with other assistive robots. 

Watch related video on COSMED YouTube Channel 

Article details:

- Title: Metabolically efficient walking assistance using optimized timed forces at the waist
- Authors: Prokopios Antonellis, Arash Mohammadzadeh Gonabadi, Sara A. Myers, Iraklis I. Pipinos, Philippe Malcolm
- Published in: Science Robotics - Vol 7, Issue 64 - March 2022
- Link: https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.abh1925