Estimating human joint moments unifies exoskeleton control, reducing user effort

Sci Robot. 2024 Mar 20;9(88):eadi8852. doi: 10.1126/scirobotics.adi8852. Epub 2024 Mar 20.

Abstract

Robotic lower-limb exoskeletons can augment human mobility, but current systems require extensive, context-specific considerations, limiting their real-world viability. Here, we present a unified exoskeleton control framework that autonomously adapts assistance on the basis of instantaneous user joint moment estimates from a temporal convolutional network (TCN). When deployed on our hip exoskeleton, the TCN achieved an average root mean square error of 0.142 newton-meters per kilogram across 35 ambulatory conditions without any user-specific calibration. Further, the unified controller significantly reduced user metabolic cost and lower-limb positive work during level-ground and incline walking compared with walking without wearing the exoskeleton. This advancement bridges the gap between in-lab exoskeleton technology and real-world human ambulation, making exoskeleton control technology viable for a broad community.

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Exoskeleton Device*
  • Humans
  • Lower Extremity
  • Robotics*
  • Walking