Abstract-This paper investigates several robotic mechanisms for ankle function evaluation, measurement and physiotherapy. For the choice, design and operation of the mechanism the kinematics of the foot is described. This is based on a kinematics model of foot adopted from biomechanics literature, under the hypothesis that foot kinematics is similar to that of a 2R serial robot. A 3D scanner and an inertial sensor were used in order to fully specify the design framework by studying a larger sample of healthy subjects. Our experimental analysis confirms and enhances the 2R foot model, and leads us to the choice of the specific mechanism. We compute the required workspace and thus address the issues required for a complete and efficient design. We compare mechanisms based on serial and parallel robots, and choose a parallel tripod with an extra rotation axis for its simplicity, accuracy and generality. The robot must be capable to perform several multi-axis motions and sustain a significant range of forces and torques. The kinematic analysis of the robot confirms that it can follow all the range of foot movements.

This paper juxtaposes simple yet sufficiently general robotic mechanisms for ankle function evaluation, measurement and physiotherapy. For the choice, design and operation of the mechanism, a kinematics model of foot is adopted from biomechanics, based on the hypothesis that foot kinematics are similar to a 2R serial robot. We undertake experiments, using a 3D scanner and an inertial sensor in order to fully specify the design framework by studying a larger sample of healthy subjects. Our experimental analysis confirms and enhances the 2R foot model, and leads us to the choice of the specific mechanism. We compute the required workspace and thus address the issues required for a complete and efficient design. The robot must be capable to perform several multi-axis motions and sustain a significant range of forces and torques. We compare mechanisms based on serial and parallel robots, and choose a parallel tripod with an extra rotation axis for its simplicity, accuracy and generality.

The aim of this work is to propose a new 2-DOF robotic platform with hybrid parallel-serial structure and to undertake its parametric design so that it can follow the whole range of ankle related foot movements. This robot can serve as a human ankle rehabilitation device. The existing ankle rehabilitation devices present typically one or more of the following shortcomings: redundancy, large size, or high cost, hence the need for a device that could offer simplicity, modularity, and low cost of construction and maintenance. In addition, our targeted device must be safe during operation, disallow undesirable movements of the foot, while adaptable to any human foot. Our detailed study of foot kinematics has led us to a new hybrid architecture, which strikes a balance among all aforementioned goals. It consists of a passive serial kinematics chain with two adjustable screws so that the axes of the chain match the two main ankle-axes of typical feet. An active parallel chain, which consists of two prismatic actuators, provides the movement of the platform. Thus, the platform can follow the foot movements, thanks to the passive chain, and also possesses the advantages of parallel robots, including rigidity, high stiffness and force capabilities. The lack of redundancy yields a simpler device with lower size and cost. The paper describes the kinematics modelling of the platform and analyses the force and velocity transmission. The parametric design of the platform is carried out; our simulations confirm the platform's suitability for ankle rehabilitation.