Reducing the energy cost of running using a lightweight, low-profile elastic exosuit

Yang, Jaeha; Park, Junil; Kim, Jihun; Park, Sung Jin; Lee, Giuk

doi:10.1186/s12984-021-00928-x

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Jin et al [ 61 ] proposed a soft wearable robot that utilized winding belts for power transmission, and then conducted evaluation experiments of metabolic cost on occasions when elderly persons were implementing long-distance level and inclined walking [ 68 ]. Some researchers made full use of elastic elements and textile materials to build passive exosuits and explored their biomechanical effects during walking [ 63 ] or running [ 64 ]. The prototype based on Bowden cables could deliver the motor output along a fixed path to the anchor point of the anterior thigh, and lead to a metabolic reduction effect as well [ 65 , 67 ].…”

Section: Overview Of Exosuitmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The specific value is obtained by indirect measurement with a portable gas analysis system. Much research has measured carbon dioxide and oxygen rate to calculate metabolic power through a modified Brockway equation [ 50 , 64 ]. A large number of experimental results have proved that exosuits show an ability to reduce metabolic cost to different degrees.…”

Section: Key Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Soft Wearable Robots: Development Status and Technical Challenges

Shi

Dong

Lin

et al. 2022

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In recent years, more and more research has begun to focus on the flexible and lightweight design of wearable robots. During this process, many novel concepts and achievements have been continuously made and shown to the public, while new problems have emerged at the same time, which need to be solved. In this paper, we give an overview of the development status of soft wearable robots for human movement assistance. On the basis of a clear definition, we perform a system classification according to the target assisted joint and attempt to describe the overall prototype design level in related fields. Additionally, it is necessary to sort out the latest research progress of key technologies such as structure, actuation, control and evaluation, thereby analyzing the design ideas and basic characteristics of them. Finally, we discuss the possible application fields, and propose the main challenges of this valuable research direction.

show abstract

Section: Overview Of Exosuitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Key Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soft Wearable Robots: Development Status and Technical Challenges

Shi

Dong

Lin

et al. 2022

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While passive systems can lower energy cost by moderate amounts, powered exoskeleton devices have the potential to provide larger reductions in the metabolic cost of running by injecting energy into the human-exoskeleton system. Passive support, which leverages the compliance and resilience of materials to provide a metabolic benefit, have included the Nike Vaporfly marathon shoe (4% reduction) [ 10 ]; a passive elastic hip exosuit (5% reduction) [ 11 ]; a rubber band connected between the feet (6% reduction) [ 12 ]; a passive exo-tendon hip exoskeleton (7% reduction) [ 13 ]; and a passive torsional spring hip exoskeleton (8% reduction) [ 14 ]. Powered untethered exoskeletons, however, could be especially helpful to individuals like novice or ageing runners who need larger metabolic reductions to perceive or benefit from assistance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing the relationship between peak assistance torque and metabolic cost reduction during running with ankle exoskeletons

Miller

Tan

Farina

et al. 2022

J NeuroEngineering Rehabil

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Reducing the energy cost of running with exoskeletons could improve enjoyment, reduce fatigue, and encourage participation among novice and ageing runners. Previously, tethered ankle exoskeleton emulators with offboard motors were used to greatly reduce the energy cost of running with powered ankle plantarflexion assistance. Through a process known as “human-in-the-loop optimization”, the timing and magnitude of assistance torque was optimized to maximally reduce metabolic cost. However, to achieve the maximum net benefit in energy cost outside of the laboratory environment, it is also necessary to consider the tradeoff between the magnitude of device assistance and the metabolic penalty of carrying a heavier, more powerful exoskeleton. Methods In this study, tethered ankle exoskeleton emulators were used to characterize the effect of peak assistance torque on metabolic cost during running. Three recreational runners participated in human-in-the-loop optimization at four fixed peak assistance torque levels to obtain their energetically optimal assistance timing parameters at each level. Results We found that the relationship between metabolic rate and peak assistance torque was nearly linear but with diminishing returns at higher torque magnitudes, which is well-approximated by an asymptotic exponential function. At the highest assistance torque magnitude of 0.8 Nm/kg, participants’ net metabolic rate was 24.8 ± 2.3% (p = 4e–6) lower than running in the unpowered devices. Optimized timing of peak assistance torque was as late as allowed during stance (80% of stance) and optimized timing of torque removal was at toe-off (100% of stance); similar assistance timing was preferred across participants and torque magnitudes. Conclusions These results allow exoskeleton designers to predict the energy cost savings for candidate devices with different assistance torque capabilities, thus informing the design of portable ankle exoskeletons that maximize net metabolic benefit.

show abstract

“…Jinsoo Kim et al showed that a portable exosuit carried on the back that assists hip extension can reduce the metabolic rate of treadmill walking at 1.5 m per second by 9.3% and that of running at 2.5 m per second by 4.0%, compared with locomotion without the exosuit [13]. Jaeha Yang et al proposed a passive exosuit (without power) which was fabricated using textile materials and elastic bands to assist hip flexion that can reduce the user's metabolism by 4% at a running speed of 2.5 m/s [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Portable Waist-Loaded Soft Exosuit for Hip Flexion Assistance with Running

Chen

et al. 2022

Micromachines

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The soft exosuit is an emerging robotics, which has been proven to considerably reduce the metabolic consumption of human walking and running. However, compared to walking, relatively few soft exosuits have been studied for running. Many soft exosuits used for running are worn on the back and with a heavy weight load, which may cause instability while running and potentially increase metabolic consumption. Therefore, reducing the weight of the whole soft exosuit system as much as possible and keeping the soft exosuit close to the center of gravity, may improve running stability and further reduce metabolic consumption. In this paper, a portable waist-loaded soft exosuit, the weight of which is almost entirely concentrated at the waist, is shown to assist hip flexion during running, and justifies choosing to assist hip flexion while running. As indicated by the experiments of motion flexibility, wearing the waist-loaded soft exosuit can assist in performing many common and complex motions. The metabolic consumption experiments proved that the portable waist-loaded soft exosuit reduces the metabolic consumption rate of wearers when jogging on the treadmill at 6 km per hour by 7.79% compared with locomotion without the exosuit. Additionally, at the running speed of 8 km per hour, using the waist-loaded soft exosuit can reduce metabolic consumption rate by 4.74%. Similarly, at the running speed of 10 km per hour, it also can be reduced by 6.12%. It is demonstrated that assisting hip flexion for running is also a reasonable method, and wearing the waist-loaded soft exosuit can keep human motion flexibility and reduce metabolic consumption.

show abstract

Reducing the energy cost of running using a lightweight, low-profile elastic exosuit

Cited by 12 publications

References 25 publications

Soft Wearable Robots: Development Status and Technical Challenges

Soft Wearable Robots: Development Status and Technical Challenges

Characterizing the relationship between peak assistance torque and metabolic cost reduction during running with ankle exoskeletons

A Portable Waist-Loaded Soft Exosuit for Hip Flexion Assistance with Running

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About