Estimation of muscle and joint forces in the human lower extremity during rising motion from a seated position

Biomechanical models are often employed to predict in vivo muscle or joint forces in the human body because measuring these forces is difficult. Even though the rising motion from a seated position frequently occurs in daily life and the force acting on the knee joints during the motion is important for aged or infirmed people, limited studies related to the motion have been conducted. This study aims to propose a numerical procedure to estimate the muscle and joint forces in the human lower extremity during rising motion from a seated position. The human lower extremity is idealized as a multibody system in which the Hill-type muscle force model is employed. The multibody system consists of four bodies (shank, thigh, pelvis, and upper body), three revolute joints, and ten forces. The motion of the multibody system is assumed constrained to the sagittal plane, and the muscles in the human lower extremity are idealized by nine action/reaction forces. The nine forces are determined by minimizing the metabolic energy, which is consumed during the rising motion. Metabolic energy consists of the energy consumed by heat generation of muscles and the mechanical work done by muscles. For the accuracy validation of the proposed estimation method, numerical results obtained with the proposed method are compared with existing experimental results.     

基于sEMG和肌肉骨骼模型的手指多关节力矩耦合分析

手指内部力矩受表面肌电信号、肌力、手部姿态等因素影响而无法直接获取,为了实时且准确地获取手指各关节力矩以及耦合力矩并应用于手部康复机器人的交互控制中,提出了一种基于表面肌电信号和肌肉骨骼模型的手指多关节力矩和耦合力矩分析与实时获取方法。首先设计了自适应手指关节角度采集系统,通过实验同步采集指浅屈肌与指伸肌的肌电信号以及手指各关节的角度数据,建立手指多关节力矩模型,从而获取手指各关节力矩。然后建立手指D-H模型,结合虚功原理获取手指的耦合力矩。最后,辨识了手指多关节力矩模型的参数,并通过OpenSim软件获取了仿真力矩。计算力矩与仿真力矩的对比结果显示：4名被试3个关节力矩的均方根误差分别为0.156 7、0.097 425、0.084 95,证明了该方法能够实时并准确的获取手指各关节力矩和耦合力矩,能够满足手部康复机器人交互控制准确性和实时性的需求。     

Analysis of the assistance characteristics for the knee extension motion of knee orthosis using muscular stiffness force feedback

In this paper, we are interested in the characteristics of a knee joint when the knee extension motion was assisted by a powered knee orthosis using a muscular stiffness force feedback. For this purpose, we developed the powered knee orthosis with an artificial pneumatic actuator, which is intended for the assistance and the enhancement of muscular activities of lower limbs. The objective of this study was to confirm the effectiveness of the powered knee orthosis that generated a knee extension torque in the motion related to a knee joint. Twenty healthy subjects participated in this study and their lower limb muscular activities were measured to identify the effectiveness of the powered knee orthosis during sit-to-stand (STS) and squat motion. The muscular activities between with and without assistance of knee extension motion were compared and analyzed for the assistance characteristics of the powered knee orthosis. To generate the knee extension torque, the knee orthosis was controlled using muscular stiffness force (MSF) feedback that is controlled by muscular activities of the vastus intermedius muscle that mainly related to the knee extension motion. For analysis of muscular activities, the surface electromyography of the muscles related to the knee extension motion, i.e., RF, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius muscles in lower limbs of the right side were recorded and biodex dynamometer was used to measure the maximal concentric isokinetic strength of the knee extensors. The experimental result showed that muscular activities in lower limbs with the assistance of the powered knee orthosis was reduced by 25.62% in rectus femoris muscle and 29.82% in biceps femoris muscle, respectively and knee extension torque of an knee joint wearing knee orthosis was increased by 17.68% in averaged peak torque. Based on the effectiveness of the powered knee orthosis, weaken elder people may have benefited from the knee extension motion augmented by the powered knee orthosis during activity of daily living, e.g., stair ascent.     

Maximum finger force prediction using a planar simulation of the middle finger

Maximum isometric finger-grip forces were predicted using a biomechanical model for plane motion of the middle finger. In the course of this study, mathematical representations of tendon displacement, the moment arm of tendon at the finger joints and muscle force-length relationship were investigated. The information gathered was applied to the model to estimate the maximum grip force of the middle finger gripping cylinders of different sizes. Muscle force per unit physiological cross-section area of 30 N/cm2 resulted in good agreement with measured force. However, for finger postures having an acute proximal interphalangeal joint angle, the estimated force was greater than that measured. Various joint angles were applied to the model to simulate the wrist and finger postures not limited to the cylinder grip. In general the finger force was greatest with the wrist in its extended position and at acute flexion of the proximal interphalangeal joint. The maximum finger force occurred at reduced metacarpophalangeal joint angles as the wrist joint changed from an extended position to a flexed one. It is also postulated that muscle force-length relationship is an important factor in muscle force predictions. The data obtained by this research are useful for the design of handles and the current model is applicable to the analysis of hand postures for workers using hand tools.     

FORCE OPTIMIZATION OF GRASPING BY ROBOTIC HANDS

It is important for robotic hands to obtain optimal grasping performance in the meanwhile balancing external forces and maintaining grasp stability. The problem offeree optimization of grasping is solved in the space of joint torques. A measure of grasping performance is presented to protect joint actuators from working in heavy payloads. The joint torques are calculated for the optimal performance under the frictional constraints and the physical limits of motor outputs. By formulating the grasping forces into the explicit function of joint torques, the frictional constraints imposed on the grasping forces are transformed into the constraints on joint torques. Without further simplification, the nonlinear frictional constraints can be simply handled in the process of optimization. Two numerical examples demonstrate the simplicity and effectiveness of the approach.     

仿人型机器人腿的探讨

提出一种用气动人工肌肉驱动的仿人型机器人腿。首先描述了气动人工肌肉的结构与工作原理，人工肌肉具有变刚度特性，它的刚度可通过控制橡胶管内的气压实现，调节管内气压的大小就可改变肌肉的刚度。它的刚度大小决定肌肉的驱动力。然后提出了用气动人工肌肉驱动的机器人腿的结构形式以及机器人腿的摆动控制方式，腿的驱动力和行走运动全由工控机控制实现。     

并联机器人力传递性能分析

并联机器人雅可比矩阵中包含了输入输出力/力矩关系的信息,以此为基础可以进行一些力学性能评价。然而,力和力矩具有不同的量纲,因而,直接对雅可比矩阵进行分析计算不尽合理。据此,将雅可比矩阵分为力雅可比和力矩雅可比,在此基础上,研究并联机器人在工作空间内的力传递性能和力矩传递性能。所提方法自然直观,避免了不同量纲的物理量之间的混合,所得结果物理意义明晰,可用于并联机器人结构优化。     

刚软结合可穿戴手部康复装置设计

手部康复装置是用于手部功能恢复治疗的装置,刚性装置柔性不足、贴合性差,容易造成二次伤害;软体装置驱动力小,且复杂软体装置不易制作。为克服刚性装置与软体装置的缺点,提出了一种结合软体关节与刚性指节的可穿戴手部康复装置。分析人手的生物结构,设计软体关节结构并分析其弯曲特性,基于刚软结合设计气动手指执行器,并进行有限元应力与变形分析;完成软体硅胶关节模具和手部康复装置的制作;搭建气动手指执行器测试实验平台,测试刚软结合手指执行器的弯曲特性和指尖力,并进行手部康复装置对不同形状物体的抓取实验。结果表明所设计的刚软结合可穿戴手部康复装置可实现手部抓握等运动功能的康复训练。     

A preview approach to force control of robot manipulators

Automated assembly operations that utilize robots tend to constrain the robot's motion due to the task geometry. This constrained motion is termed compliant motion. Complaint motion can be actively controlled using a method of force feedback based upon servo-loop compensation, or it can be passively controlled by mechanical devices integrated into the robot structure. The “preview approach” to force control presented in this paper is a scheme based on predictive calculation of the contact forces that develop at the interface between mating parts. The preview approach utilizes predicted, present and past information to execute motion control. Contact forces are calculated using a mathematical model of the assembly process and are then used to control the compliant motion through suitable compensation torques. The control algorithm used here is more efficient than the standard methods that rely on data from force sensors and use no preview.     

Posture optimization for a humanoid robot using a simple genetic algorithm

This study proposes a method of real-time posture optimization of humanoid robots using a genetic algorithm and neural network. Here, the motion of a humanoid robot pushing an object is considered. When the robot starts pushing the object, the palms of its hands and the soles of its feet are assumed to be fixed on the object and on the ground, respectively, and they sense the reaction force from those surfaces. The reaction force results in changes of torques in the joints. This study determines an optimized posture using a genetic algorithm such that either the torques are evenly distributed over all joints or the torque of the weakest joint is rapidly reduced. Several different optimized postures are then generated by varying the reaction forces at the palms and the soles. The data is used as training patterns for a multilayer perceptron neural network with a back-propagation learning algorithm. Using the trained neural network, the humanoid robot can find the optimal posture for different reaction forces in real time. Several simulations were conducted to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. The simulation results showed that the proposed method can be used for real-time posture optimization of humanoid robots.     

基于气动柔性驱动器的三自由度手指指端输出力特牲研究

三自由度手指由3个气动柔性弯曲关节串联而成,弯曲关节由气动柔性驱动器 ( FPA)驱动。关节驱动力矩的大小取决于各个关节FPA内腔中的压缩气体压力的大小。推导了手指运动学方程及力雅可比矩阵,分析了手指指端受力状况,建立了指端输出力与各个内腔气体压力增值之间的映射关系。对手指指端输出力进行了仿真研究和实验研究,实验结果与力模型结果基本吻合。     

基于伪刚体模型的腰部训练装置的运动学分析

考虑到康复运动过程中康复患者对康复机器人的作用,康复机器人的设计过程中将康复患者的康复部位作为其一部分进行设计和分析。将腰部考虑成柔性杆,并将其作为气动人工肌肉驱动的腰部训练装置的一部分进行分析。对腰部训练装置进行了结构介绍并分析了腰部在腰部训练装置中的作用,给出了腰部训练装置的运动学模型。对腰部训练装置进行了受力分析,结合腰部训练装置的功能对气动人工肌肉组件进行了设计和受力分析,使用伪刚体模型对腰部进行受力分析,得到了腰部脊柱与康复腰带结合点的受力结果,基于此对腰部训练装置整体进行受力分析,得到腰部训练装置中康复腰带与气动人工肌肉组件之间受力的关系。通过仿真验证了运动学分析和受力分析结果的正确性,并根据腰部训练装置的力学分析及仿真结果,进一步设计并搭建气动人工肌肉和柔索混合驱动并联腰部康复机器人试验平台。     

气动肌肉并联关节的位姿轨迹跟踪控制

针对多输入多输出的气动肌肉并联关节,建立包含任务空间负载动态方程、容腔压力动态方程和高速开关阀平均流量方程的多阶动态系统数学模型。为保证气动肌肉并联关节系统良好动态特性的同时具有高精度的位姿轨迹跟踪,采用基于非连续投影算法的自适应鲁棒控制策略。该策略通过自适应参数估计来消除因气动肌肉并联关节系统动态数学模型的参数未知而引起的较大参数不确定,通过鲁棒反馈来消除因气动肌肉的伸缩力模型误差、摩擦力时变和关节系统的不可知干扰等引起的严重非线性不确定,且控制器基于反推设计,对多输入多输出的多阶耦合动态系统具有很好的适用性。试验结果表明：所研究的气动肌肉并联关节阶跃响应的静态误差小于0.09°,连续轨迹跟踪的标准误差小于0.15°,且具有较强的自适应性和鲁棒性。     

Assistance of the elbow flexion motion on the active elbow orthosis using muscular stiffness force feedback

An elbow orthosis with pneumatic artificial muscles has been developed to assist and enhance upper limbs movements and has been examined for effectiveness. The effectiveness of the elbow orthosis was examined by comparing muscular activities during alternate dumbbell curl motion wearing and without wearing the orthosis. The subjects participating in the experiment were young adults in their twenties. The subjects were instructed to perform a dumbbell curl motion in a sitting position with and without wearing an orthosis in turn, and a dynamometer was used to measure elbow joint torque in isokinetic mode. The measurements were done with four various dumbbell loads: 0, 1, 3, and 5 kg. We examined the effectiveness of the elbow orthosis in two control methods. First, the orthosis was pneumatically actuated and controlled in the passive control mode. Then, it was controlled in the active control mode using the muscular stiffness force of the muscle that is measured from a force sensor through a cDAQ-9172 board. For the analysis of muscular power, the muscular activities of the subject were measured during alternate dumbbell curl motion using MP150 (BIOPAC Systems, Inc.). The muscles of interest were biceps brachii muscle, triceps brachii muscle, brachioradialis muscle, and flexor carpi ulnaris muscle in the upper limbs of the right side. The elbow joint torque was measured during elbow flexion motion using a dynamometer at 60° per second for isokinetic strength. The experimental result showed that the muscular activities wearing the elbow orthosis were reduced and elbow joint torque wearing the elbow orthosis was higher because of the assist of the orthosis. As a result of this experiment, the effectiveness of the developed elbow orthosis was confirmed and the level of assistance was quantified. With this, we confirmed the effectiveness of the developed elbow orthosis.     

气动肌腱驱动的杠杆-双滚轮式二次增力机构

介绍了一种以气动肌腱为驱动力的杠杆-双滚轮式二次增力机构的工作原理,给出了其力学计算公式.该装置结构紧凑,能对输入力进行高倍放大后输出.     

气动肌肉关节的刚度分析及变刚度运动控制

根据人腿髋关节、膝关节骨骼结构及拮抗肌肉运动发力特点,设计一种拮抗气动肌肉驱动的仿生单腿机器人;由三元素模型求单根肌肉及关节摆动下被动刚度特性,分析关节角度/刚度关系;为实现仿生腿膝关节刚度可控的角度控制,建立仿生关节关于角度/刚度的基本气压解算模型;基于计算力矩控制对非线性对象具有高度补偿线性化性,提出含力矩项补偿的改进气压解算模型。搭建仿真及样机实验平台,结果表明,含两种气压解算模型的双闭环控制算法均能较好跟随膝关节角度/刚度,含带力矩项补偿模型的双闭环控制算法对膝关节的角度/刚度控制精度优于含基本模型的双闭环控制算法。该算法适用拮抗气动肌肉关节的类人运动,可满足人机协作时可靠性、柔顺性、仿生性等要求。     

基于气动肌腱驱动的拮抗式仿生关节设计与控制

关节是仿生机器人机械系统的基本组成元素。在面向环境交互的仿生机器人系统中,关节的质量、体积以及功/重比直接影响系统的工作性能。与传统的电气、液压驱动方式相比,采用气动肌腱的驱动方式具有质量小、体积小和高功/重比等优势,具有广阔的应用前景。从功能仿生角度出发,在分析人体肘关节骨骼结构特点和肌肉发力方式的基础上,设计一种基于气动肌腱驱动的拮抗式仿生关节。建立单根肌腱的数学模型,通过搭建气动肌腱工作特性试验平台对肌腱进行性能测试,采用最小二乘法对模型参数进行辨识。针对拮抗式仿生关节的构型进行运动学和动力学分析,提出基于肌腱模型的偏置输入气压控制方法,设计基于关节估计阻尼的扰动观测器对名义模型进行补偿,通过数值仿真对控制方法进行有效性验证。建立仿生关节运动控制试验系统,通过单关节轨迹跟踪试验验证了肌腱理论模型的正确性及控制策略的有效性。     

COMBINING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ROBOT MODELS FOR IMPROVED MODEL PARAMETER ESTIMATION

Experimental robot identification techniques can principally be divided into two categories, based on the type of models they use : internal or external. Internal models relate the joint torques or forces and the motion of the robot; external models relate the reaction forces and torques on the bedplate and the motion data. This paper describes how internal and external robot models can be combined into one identifiable minimal model. This model allows to combine joint torque/force and reaction torque/force measurements in one parameter estimation scheme. This combined model estimation will yield more accurate parameter estimates, and consequently better actuator torque predictions, which is shown by means of a simulated experiment on an industrial robot (KUKA IR 361). This increased accuracy is quite interesting in view of using advanced control algorithms such as computed torque control.     

带有迟滞非线性的气动运动模拟平台自抗扰轨迹跟踪控制

针对带有迟滞非线性的气动运动模拟平台的轨迹跟踪提出了带有切换扩张状态观测器的自抗扰控制方法。气动运动模拟平台的迟滞非线性特性主要指气动人工肌肉在正向充气反向放气时长度和拉力曲线的差异。针对此特性设计了切换扩张状态观测器来估计和补偿模型非线性,分别对于气动人工肌肉正反向充放气的不同模型采用不同的观测器增益,以提高状态估计效果,减小跟踪误差。进一步,设计了状态误差反馈控制器,得到了基于切换扩张状态观测器的二阶非线性动态系统全局有界稳定的充分条件。最后实验结果证实了所设计的切换扩张状态观测器的实际效果。     

基于力螺旋理论进行手指包容抓取静力分析

在手指包容抓取静力分析中，给出了基于力螺旋理论来分析手指包容抓取问题，对于给定的物体，手指模型及手指与物体间的接触方式，给出手指抵抗外力的能力，这种静力分析法对于处理机器人手的抓取操作规划与优化以及力控制设计等问题提供了理论基础。