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Articles 1 - 12 of 12
Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering
A Generalized Method For Predictive Simulation-Based Lower Limb Prosthesis Design, Mark Price
A Generalized Method For Predictive Simulation-Based Lower Limb Prosthesis Design, Mark Price
Doctoral Dissertations
Lower limb prostheses are designed to replace the functions and form of the missing biological anatomy. These functions are hypothesized to improve user outcome measures which are negatively affected by receiving an amputation – such as metabolic cost of transport, preferred walking speed, and perceived discomfort during walking. However, the effect of these design functions on the targeted outcome measures is highly variable, suggesting that these relationships are not fully understood. Biomechanics simulation and modeling tools are increasingly capable of analyzing the effects of a design on the resulting user gait. In this work, prothesis-aided gait is optimized in simulation …
Evaluation Of Impedance Control On A Powered Hip Exoskeleton, Punith Condoor
Evaluation Of Impedance Control On A Powered Hip Exoskeleton, Punith Condoor
Masters Theses
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 …
A Magnetic Resonance Compatible Knee Extension Ergometer, Youssef Jaber
A Magnetic Resonance Compatible Knee Extension Ergometer, Youssef Jaber
Masters Theses
The product of this thesis aims to enable the study of the biochemical and physical dynamics of the lower limbs at high levels of muscle tension and fast contraction speeds. This is accomplished in part by a magnetic resonance (MR) compatible ergometer designed to apply a load as a torque of up to 420 Nm acting against knee extension at speeds as high as 4.7 rad/s. The system can also be adapted to apply the load as a force of up to 1200 N acting against full leg extension. The ergometer is designed to enable the use of magnetic resonance …
Belief-Space Planning For Resourceful Manipulation And Mobility, Dirk Ruiken
Belief-Space Planning For Resourceful Manipulation And Mobility, Dirk Ruiken
Doctoral Dissertations
Robots are increasingly expected to work in partially observable and unstructured environments. They need to select actions that exploit perceptual and motor resourcefulness to manage uncertainty based on the demands of the task and environment. The research in this dissertation makes two primary contributions. First, it develops a new concept in resourceful robot platforms called the UMass uBot and introduces the sixth and seventh in the uBot series. uBot-6 introduces multiple postural configurations that enable different modes of mobility and manipulation to meet the needs of a wide variety of tasks and environmental constraints. uBot-7 extends this with the use …
Multi-Classifier Fusion Strategy For Activity And Intent Recognition Of Torso Movements, Abhijit Kadrolkar
Multi-Classifier Fusion Strategy For Activity And Intent Recognition Of Torso Movements, Abhijit Kadrolkar
Doctoral Dissertations
As assistive, wearable robotic devices are being developed to physically assist their users, it has become crucial to develop safe, reliable methods to coordinate the device with the intentions and motions of the wearer. This dissertation investigates the recognition of user intent during flexion and extension of the human torso in the sagittal plane to be used for control of an assistive exoskeleton for the human torso. A multi-sensor intent recognition approach is developed that combines information from surface electromyogram (sEMG) signals from the user’s muscles and inertial sensors mounted on the user’s body. Intent recognition is implemented by following …
A Lower Limb Prosthesis With Active Alignment For Reduced Limb Loading, Andrew Lapre
A Lower Limb Prosthesis With Active Alignment For Reduced Limb Loading, Andrew Lapre
Doctoral Dissertations
Over the past decade, the growing field of robotics has created new possibilities in lower limb prostheses. The focus of these new prostheses has been replicating the dynamics of the lost limb in order to restore gait of individuals with lower limb amputations to healthy norms. This places demanding loads on the residual limb. Compensation by the rest of body is high, causes overloading of intact joints and can lead to deterioration of mobility and overall health. Abnormalities remain present in the person’s gait, stemming from the loading of soft tissue and the altered anatomy of the affected limb. In …
A Soft Multiple-Degree Of Freedom Load Cell Based On The Hall Effect, Qiandong Nie
A Soft Multiple-Degree Of Freedom Load Cell Based On The Hall Effect, Qiandong Nie
Masters Theses
The goal of this thesis is to develop a soft multiple-degree-of-freedom (multi-DOF) load cell that is robust and light weight for use in robotics applications to sense three axes of force and a single axis of torque. The displacement of the magnet within the elastomer changes the magnetic flux density which is sensed by two 3-axis Hall effect sensors. Experimental measurements of magnetic flux density within the area of interest were used to formulate analytic expressions that relate magnet field strength to the position of the magnet. The displacement and orientation measurement and the material properties of the elastomer are …
A Haptic Surface Robot Interface For Large-Format Touchscreen Displays, Mark Price
A Haptic Surface Robot Interface For Large-Format Touchscreen Displays, Mark Price
Masters Theses
This thesis presents the design for a novel haptic interface for large-format touchscreens. Techniques such as electrovibration, ultrasonic vibration, and external braked devices have been developed by other researchers to deliver haptic feedback to touchscreen users. However, these methods do not address the need for spatial constraints that only restrict user motion in the direction of the constraint. This technology gap contributes to the lack of haptic technology available for touchscreen-based upper-limb rehabilitation, despite the prevalent use of haptics in other forms of robotic rehabilitation. The goal of this thesis is to display kinesthetic haptic constraints to the touchscreen user …
A Continous Rotary Actuation Mechanism For A Powered Hip Exoskeleton, Matthew C. Ryder
A Continous Rotary Actuation Mechanism For A Powered Hip Exoskeleton, Matthew C. Ryder
Masters Theses
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 …
Design And Control Of A Two-Wheeled Robotic Walker, Airton R. Da Silva Jr.
Design And Control Of A Two-Wheeled Robotic Walker, Airton R. Da Silva Jr.
Masters Theses
This thesis presents the design, construction, and control of a two-wheeled inverted pendulum (TWIP) robotic walker prototype for assisting mobility-impaired users with balance and fall prevention. A conceptual model of the robotic walker is developed and used to illustrate the purpose of this study. A linearized mathematical model of the two-wheeled system is derived using Newtonian mechanics. A control strategy consisting of a decoupled LQR controller and three state variable controllers is developed to stabilize the platform and regulate its behavior with robust disturbance rejection performance. Simulation results reveal that the LQR controller is capable of stabilizing the platform and …
Ubot-7: The Design Of A Compliant Dexterous Mobile Manipulator, Jonathan Cummings
Ubot-7: The Design Of A Compliant Dexterous Mobile Manipulator, Jonathan Cummings
Masters Theses
This thesis presents the design of uBot-7, the latest version of a dexterous mobile manipulator. This platform has been iteratively developed to realize a high performance-to-cost dexterous whole body manipulator with respect to mobile manipulation. The semi-anthropomorphic design of the uBot is a demonstrated and functional research platform for developing advanced autonomous perception, manipulation, and mobility tasks. The goal of this work is to improve the uBot’s ability to sense and interact with its environment in order to increase the platforms capability to operate dexterously, through the incorporation of joint torque feedback, and safely, through the implementation of passive and …
New Generator Control Algorithms For Smart-Bladed Wind Turbines To Improve Power Capture In Below Rated Conditions, Bryce B. Aquino
New Generator Control Algorithms For Smart-Bladed Wind Turbines To Improve Power Capture In Below Rated Conditions, Bryce B. Aquino
Masters Theses
With wind turbines growing in size, operation and maintenance has become a more important area of research with the goal of making wind energy more profitable. Wind turbine blades are subjected to intense fluctuating loads that can cause significant damage over time. The need for advanced methods of alleviating blade loads to extend the lifespan of wind turbines has become more important as worldwide initiatives have called for a push in renewable energy. An area of research whose goal is to reduce the fatigue damage is smart rotor control. Smart bladed wind turbines have the ability to sense aerodynamic loads …