Research advances in control methods of wearable walking assist robots

Abstract

As the proportion of the elderly in China increases, the need for robotic assist walking is growing. The assisted-as-needed (AAN) property of a wearable walking assist robot matches a user’s biological need and improves the flexibility, appetency and friendliness of a mechanical system. To realize AAN walking and aiming at realizing master/slave flexible assist, a new hybrid control method consisting of hip joint control based on central pattern generators and knee joint impedance structured control is proposed. The adaptation of a robot's master/slave motion mode to a user's physical function, the continuous switching method for knee joint impedance structured control and its stability, and the AAN effect of the Hybrid control theory are studied, which provides a new thought for the development of wearable walking assist robots.

Keywords

• robot control
• wearable walking assist
• Hybrid control
• assisted-as-needed
• impedance structured control
• CPG control