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This thesis presents an impedance control strategy for a novel powered hip exoskeleton designed to provide partial assistance and leverage the dynamics of human gait. The control strategy is based on impedance control and provides the user assistance as needed which is determined by the user’s interaction with the exoskeleton. A series elastic element is used to drive the exoskeleton and measures the interaction torque between the user and the device. The device operates in two modes. Free mode is a low impedance state that attempts to provide no assistance. Assist mode increases the gains of the controller to provide assistance as needed. The device was tested on five healthy subjects, and the resulting assistive hip torque was evaluated to determine the ability of the controller to provide gait assistance. The device was evaluated at different speeds to assess the gait speed adaptation performance of the controller. Results show that hip torque assistance range was between 0.3 to 0.5 Nm/kg across the subjects, corresponding to 24% to 40% of the maximum hip torque requirements of healthy adults during walking. The peak power provided by the system is 35 W on average and a peak power of up to 45 W.

With the ability to navigate natural and man-made environments and utilize standard human tools, humanoid robots have the potential to transform emergency response and disaster relief applications by serving as first responders in hazardous scenarios. Such applications will require major advances in humanoid control, enabling robots to traverse difficult, cluttered terrain with both speed and stability. To advance the state of the art, this dissertation presents a complete dynamic locomotion and whole-body control framework for compliant (torque-controlled) humanoids. We develop low-level, mid-level, and high-level controllers to enable low-impedance balancing and walking on compliant and uneven terrain. For low-level control, we present a cascaded joint impedance controller for series elastic humanoids with parallel actuation. A distributed controller architecture is implemented using a dual-axis motor controller that computes desired actuator forces and motor currents using simple models of the joint mechanisms and series elastic actuators. An inner-loop force controller is developed using feedforward and PID control with a model-based disturbance observer, enabling naturally compliant behaviors with low joint impedance. For mid-level control, we implement an optimization-based whole-body control strategy assuming a rigid body model of the robot. Joint torque setpoints are computed using an efficient quadratic program (QP) given desired joint accelerations, spatial accelerations, and momentum rates of change. Constraints on the centroidal dynamics, contact forces, and joint limits ensure admissibility of the optimized setpoints. Using this approach, we develop compliant standing and stepping behaviors based on simple feedback controllers. For high-level control, we present a dynamic planning and control approach for humanoid locomotion using a novel time-varying extension of the Divergent Component of Motion (DCM). By varying the natural frequency of the DCM, we are able to achieve generic vertical center of mass (CoM) trajectories during walking. Complementary reverse-time integration and model predictive control (MPC) strategies are proposed to generate dynamically feasible DCM plans over a multi-step preview window, supporting locomotion on uneven terrain. The proposed approach is validated through experimental results obtained using THOR, a 34 degree of freedom (DOF) series elastic humanoid. Rough terrain locomotion is demonstrated in simulation, and compliant locomotion and push recovery are demonstrated in hardware. We discuss practical considerations that led to a successful implementation on the THOR hardware platform and conclude with an application of the presented control framework for humanoid firefighting onboard the ex-USS Shadwell, a decommissioned Navy ship. / Ph. D.

Series elastic actuators (SEAs) have numerous benefits for force controlled robotic applications. This thesis presents the design and assembly of a set of compact, lightweight, low-friction linear SEAs for the legs of the Tactical Hazardous Operations Robot (THOR). The THOR SEA pairs a ball screw driven linear actuator with a configurable titanium leaf spring. A removable pivot changes the effective cantilever length, setting the compliance to either 372 or 655 kN/m. Unlike typical SEAs which measure actuator load through spring deflection, an in-line axial load cell directly measures actuator forces up to the commandable peak of 2225 N. The continuous operating range of the actuator is computed, along with an evaluation of the range of motion and torque profiles for the parallel hip and ankle joints. With a focus on a large power-to-weight ratio and small packaging size, the THOR SEAs are well-suited for accurate torque control of the parallel joints on the robot. Linearly actuated joints, especially ones driven through a crank arm, tend to suffer from a loss of mechanical advantage toward the ends of its limited range of motion. To augment the range of motion and mechanical advantage profile on THOR, an inverted Hoeken's linkage straight line mechanism is paired with a linear SEA at the hip and knee pitch joints on the robot. The resulting linkage assembly is capable of delivering nearly constant peak torque of 115 Nm across its 150 degree range of motion. The mechanical advantage profile of the Hoeken's linkage actuator is computed for the nominal case, as well the deviation resulting from maximum deflection of the titanium beam. / Master of Science

As a valuable asset in human augmentation and medical rehabilitation, exoskeletons have become a major area for research and development. They have shown themselves to be effective tools for training and rehabilitation of individuals suffering from limited mobility. However, most exoskeletons are not capable of balancing without the assistance of crutches from the user. Leveraging technology and techniques developed for force controlled humanoid robots, a project was undertaken to develop a fully self-balancing, compliant lower-body robotic exoskeleton. Due to their many beneficial features, series elastic actuators were utilized to power the joints on the exoskeleton. This thesis details the development of four linear series elastic actuators (LSEA) as part of this project. All 12-degrees of freedom will be powered by one of these four LSEA's. Actuator requirements were developed by examining human gait data and three robot-walking simulations. These four walking scenarios were synthesized into one set of power requirements for actuator development. Using these requirements, analytical models were developed to perform component trade studies and predict the performance of the actuator. These actuators utilize high-efficacy components, parallel electric motors, and liquid cooling to attain high power-to-weight ratios, while maintaining a small lightweight design. These analyses and trade studies have resulted in the design of a dual-motor liquid-cooled actuator capable of producing a peak force 8500N with a maximum travel speed of 0.267m/s, and three different single-motor actuators capable of producing forces up to 2450N continuously, with a maximum travel speeds up to 0.767m/s. / Master of Science

L'estimation des forces musculaires nécessite le développement d'un modèle biomécanique. Une des étapes essentielle de ce type d'approche est la modélisation de l'interaction au sein du complexe muscle-tendon entre trois composants, les fibres musculaires, l'aponévrose et le tendon par un modèle de type Hill. L'objectif de ce travail doctoral était d'identifier les paramètres dans le modèle de type Hill qui jouent un rôle important dans l'estimation des forces musculaires et de proposer une méthode pour les définir. L’échographie a été utilisée pour estimer la relation force-déformation in vivo du tendon et de l'aponévrose, et le comportement in vivo des fibres musculaires au cours de la contraction pour chaque sujet et comme un moyen de quantifier la précision des modèles en mesurant le comportement in vivo des fibres musculaires et les comparer aux sorties du modèle. L'utilisation d'une définition de l'Élément Élastique en série spécifique au sujet dans les modèles biomécaniques joue un rôle important pour des activités où les forces musculaires sont importantes. Lors de tâches isométriques maximales, la relation force-déformation du tendon spécifique au sujet combiné à des contraintes sur la géométrie initiale conduit à des estimations de forces musculaires plus faibles et un comportement différent des fibres. En ce qui concerne des activités comme le hopping et la course, l’utilisation d’une relation force-déformation du complexe tendon-aponévrose spécifique au sujet permet d’estimer des forces musculaires plus grandes et entraîne un découplage du comportement des fibres musculaires plus important par rapport au complexe muscle-tendon. Pour des activités de marche, la définition de l’élément en série dans le modèle de type-Hill n'influence pas les forces musculaires. L'échographie apparaît comme un outil intéressant pour personnaliser les modèles et pourrait être appliqué sur des patients ayant un trouble neuromusculosquelettique. / The estimation of forces produced by the muscle-tendon complex around a joint needs the development of a neuromusculoskeletal model. One of essential step of this approach is the modeling by a Hill-type muscle model of the interaction within the muscle-tendon complex between three components: the muscle fiber, the aponeurosis, and the tendon. The objective of this work was to identify the parameters used as input into Hill-type muscle model that play an important role in muscle force estimation and to propose a method to define them. The ultrasonography has been used to estimate in vivo tendon and aponeurosis force-strain relationships, and the in vivo behavior of muscle fiber during the contraction for each subject. In addition, a method was proposed to quantify the model accuracy by estimating the in vivo behavior of muscle fiber and compare it with model outputs. The use of subject-specific definition of Series Elastic Element into the EMG-driven model plays an important role for activity at high level of muscle forces. During maximal isometric contraction, the subject-specific tendon force-strain relationship combined with constraint on initial muscle geometry (i.e., fiber length and muscle thickness) leads to lower estimated muscle forces and to a different behavior for the muscle fiber. Concerning highly dynamic tasks such as running and \textit{hopping}, the use of subject specific force-strain relationship for the tendon-aponeurosis complex allows to estimate higher muscle forces and leads to a heavier decoupling behavior between muscle fiber and muscle-tendon complex.The estimation of forces produced by the muscle-tendon complex needs the development of a neuromusculoskeletal model. One of essential step of this approach is the modeling by a Hill-type muscle model of the interaction within the muscle-tendon complex between three components: the muscle fiber, the aponeurosis, and the tendon. The objective of this work was to identify the parameters used as input into Hill-type muscle model that play an important role in muscle force estimation and to propose a method to define them. The ultrasonography has been used to estimate in vivo tendon and aponeurosis force-strain relationships, and the in vivo behavior of muscle fiber during the contraction for each subject. In addition, a method was proposed to quantify the model accuracy by estimating the in vivo behavior of muscle fiber and compare it with model outputs. The use of subject-specific definition of Series Elastic Element into the EMG-driven model plays an important role for activity at high level of muscle forces. During maximal isometric contraction, the subject-specific tendon force-strain relationship combined with constraint on initial muscle geometry (fiber length and muscle thickness) leads to lower estimated muscle forces and to a different behavior for the muscle fiber. Concerning highly dynamic tasks such as running and hopping, the use of subject specific force-strain relationship for the tendon-aponeurosis complex allows to estimate higher muscle forces and leads to a heavier decoupling behavior between muscle fiber and muscle-tendon complex. Concerning dynamic tasks with low force level such as walking, the estimation of muscle force was not influenced by the Series Elastic Element definition. The ultrasonography appears as a useful tool to personalize neuromusculoskeletal models and could be used for patient with neuromusculoskeletal disorders showing an alteration of tendon mechanical properties allowing to quantify the effect of rehabilitation program.

Robôs de reabilitação como próteses ativas e exoesqueletos necessitam de atuadores capazes de atender certos requisitos como baixa impedância de saída, backdrivability, geração de torques grandes e precisos, e uma estrutura leve e compacta. Este trabalho apresenta o projeto de um Atuador Elástico em Série rotacional (AESr) para ser usado em uma prótese ativa para auxiliar na flexão/extensão da articulação do joelho durante a fisioterapia. O dispositivo é constituído de um motor de corrente contínua, um redutor de velocidade do tipo coroa e rosca sem-fim e uma mola torcional personalizada. Uma vez que o elemento elástico é o componente mais importante no projeto do AESr, um procedimento de análise baseado no Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF) é utilizado para cumprir os requisitos definidos para a reabilitação do joelho. Com uma massa total de 2,53 Kg, é possível montar diretamente o atuador proposto em uma estrutura de prótese de joelho. Controladores de torque e impedância são implementados para assegurar uma interação segura com o paciente, permitindo que novas estratégias de reabilitação sejam avaliadas. As especificações do projeto bem como o desempenho dos controladores são validados experimentalmente. / Wearable robots, like prostheses, active orthosis and exoskeletons need of actuators able to meet certain requirements as low output impedance, backdrivability, precise and large torque generation, and a compact and lightweight design. This work presents the design of a rotary Series Elastic Actuator (rSEA) to be used in an active orthosis to assist in flexion/extension of the knee joint during physical therapy. The device includes a DC motor, a worm gear and a customized torsion spring. Since the elastic element is the most important component in the design of the rSEA, an analysis procedure based on Finite Element Method (FEM) is used in order to meet the requirements for the specific application. With a total weight of 2.53 kg, it is possible to directly mount the actuator on the frame of a knee orthosis. Torque and impedance controllers are implemented to ensure secure interaction with the patient and enable new strategies for rehabilitation. The design specifications as well as the controllers performance are verified by experiments.

Robôs de reabilitação como próteses ativas e exoesqueletos necessitam de atuadores capazes de atender certos requisitos como baixa impedância de saída, backdrivability, geração de torques grandes e precisos, e uma estrutura leve e compacta. Este trabalho apresenta o projeto de um Atuador Elástico em Série rotacional (AESr) para ser usado em uma prótese ativa para auxiliar na flexão/extensão da articulação do joelho durante a fisioterapia. O dispositivo é constituído de um motor de corrente contínua, um redutor de velocidade do tipo coroa e rosca sem-fim e uma mola torcional personalizada. Uma vez que o elemento elástico é o componente mais importante no projeto do AESr, um procedimento de análise baseado no Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF) é utilizado para cumprir os requisitos definidos para a reabilitação do joelho. Com uma massa total de 2,53 Kg, é possível montar diretamente o atuador proposto em uma estrutura de prótese de joelho. Controladores de torque e impedância são implementados para assegurar uma interação segura com o paciente, permitindo que novas estratégias de reabilitação sejam avaliadas. As especificações do projeto bem como o desempenho dos controladores são validados experimentalmente. / Wearable robots, like prostheses, active orthosis and exoskeletons need of actuators able to meet certain requirements as low output impedance, backdrivability, precise and large torque generation, and a compact and lightweight design. This work presents the design of a rotary Series Elastic Actuator (rSEA) to be used in an active orthosis to assist in flexion/extension of the knee joint during physical therapy. The device includes a DC motor, a worm gear and a customized torsion spring. Since the elastic element is the most important component in the design of the rSEA, an analysis procedure based on Finite Element Method (FEM) is used in order to meet the requirements for the specific application. With a total weight of 2.53 kg, it is possible to directly mount the actuator on the frame of a knee orthosis. Torque and impedance controllers are implemented to ensure secure interaction with the patient and enable new strategies for rehabilitation. The design specifications as well as the controllers performance are verified by experiments.

No description available.

This thesis presents a new mechanical design for an exoskeleton actuator to power the sagittal plane motion in the human hip. The device uses a DC motor to drive a Scotch yoke mechanism and series elasticity to take advantage of the cyclic nature of human gait and to reduce the maximum power and control requirements of the exoskeleton. The Scotch yoke actuator creates a position-dependent transmission that varies between 4:1 and infinity, with the peak transmission ratio aligned to the peak torque periods of the human gait cycle. Simulation results show that both the peak and average motor torque can be reduced using this mechanism, potentially allowing a less powerful motor to be used. Furthermore, the motor never needs to reverse direction even when the hip joint does. Preliminary testing shows the exoskeleton can provide an assistive torque and is capable of accurate position tracking at speeds covering the range of human walking. This thesis provides a detailed analysis of how the dynamic nature of human walking can be leveraged, how the hip actuator was designed, and shows how the exoskeleton performed during preliminary human trials.