Compliant lower limb exoskeletons: a comprehensive review on mechanical design principles

Abstract Exoskeleton technology has made significant advances during the last decade, resulting in a considerable variety of solutions for gait assistance and rehabilitation. The mechanical design of these devices is a crucial aspect that affects the efficiency and effectiveness of their interaction...

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Main Authors: Maria del Carmen Sanchez-Villamañan, Jose Gonzalez-Vargas, Diego Torricelli, Juan C. Moreno, Jose L. Pons
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-05-01
Series:Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12984-019-0517-9
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author Maria del Carmen Sanchez-Villamañan
Jose Gonzalez-Vargas
Diego Torricelli
Juan C. Moreno
Jose L. Pons
author_facet Maria del Carmen Sanchez-Villamañan
Jose Gonzalez-Vargas
Diego Torricelli
Juan C. Moreno
Jose L. Pons
author_sort Maria del Carmen Sanchez-Villamañan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Exoskeleton technology has made significant advances during the last decade, resulting in a considerable variety of solutions for gait assistance and rehabilitation. The mechanical design of these devices is a crucial aspect that affects the efficiency and effectiveness of their interaction with the user. Recent developments have pointed towards compliant mechanisms and structures, due to their promising potential in terms of adaptability, safety, efficiency, and comfort. However, there still remain challenges to be solved before compliant lower limb exoskeletons can be deployed in real scenarios. In this review, we analysed 52 lower limb wearable exoskeletons, focusing on three main aspects of compliance: actuation, structure, and interface attachment components. We highlighted the drawbacks and advantages of the different solutions, and suggested a number of promising research lines. We also created and made available a set of data sheets that contain the technical characteristics of the reviewed devices, with the aim of providing researchers and end-users with an updated overview on the existing solutions.
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spelling doaj.art-912dfc2a729640708c212e45df902da92022-12-22T01:53:39ZengBMCJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation1743-00032019-05-0116111610.1186/s12984-019-0517-9Compliant lower limb exoskeletons: a comprehensive review on mechanical design principlesMaria del Carmen Sanchez-Villamañan0Jose Gonzalez-Vargas1Diego Torricelli2Juan C. Moreno3Jose L. Pons4Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)Abstract Exoskeleton technology has made significant advances during the last decade, resulting in a considerable variety of solutions for gait assistance and rehabilitation. The mechanical design of these devices is a crucial aspect that affects the efficiency and effectiveness of their interaction with the user. Recent developments have pointed towards compliant mechanisms and structures, due to their promising potential in terms of adaptability, safety, efficiency, and comfort. However, there still remain challenges to be solved before compliant lower limb exoskeletons can be deployed in real scenarios. In this review, we analysed 52 lower limb wearable exoskeletons, focusing on three main aspects of compliance: actuation, structure, and interface attachment components. We highlighted the drawbacks and advantages of the different solutions, and suggested a number of promising research lines. We also created and made available a set of data sheets that contain the technical characteristics of the reviewed devices, with the aim of providing researchers and end-users with an updated overview on the existing solutions.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12984-019-0517-9AssistanceCompliant actuationMechanical complianceMechanical designLower limb exoskeletonRehabilitation
spellingShingle Maria del Carmen Sanchez-Villamañan
Jose Gonzalez-Vargas
Diego Torricelli
Juan C. Moreno
Jose L. Pons
Compliant lower limb exoskeletons: a comprehensive review on mechanical design principles
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
Assistance
Compliant actuation
Mechanical compliance
Mechanical design
Lower limb exoskeleton
Rehabilitation
title Compliant lower limb exoskeletons: a comprehensive review on mechanical design principles
title_full Compliant lower limb exoskeletons: a comprehensive review on mechanical design principles
title_fullStr Compliant lower limb exoskeletons: a comprehensive review on mechanical design principles
title_full_unstemmed Compliant lower limb exoskeletons: a comprehensive review on mechanical design principles
title_short Compliant lower limb exoskeletons: a comprehensive review on mechanical design principles
title_sort compliant lower limb exoskeletons a comprehensive review on mechanical design principles
topic Assistance
Compliant actuation
Mechanical compliance
Mechanical design
Lower limb exoskeleton
Rehabilitation
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12984-019-0517-9
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AT diegotorricelli compliantlowerlimbexoskeletonsacomprehensivereviewonmechanicaldesignprinciples
AT juancmoreno compliantlowerlimbexoskeletonsacomprehensivereviewonmechanicaldesignprinciples
AT joselpons compliantlowerlimbexoskeletonsacomprehensivereviewonmechanicaldesignprinciples