Optimal Swing Support During Walking Using Wireless Pneumatic Artificial Muscle Driver

Abstract

This study evaluates the effect of swing support during walking using a wireless pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) driver on hip and knee flexion angles. This driver can control two contraction parameters of the PAM: delay of contraction from the trigger and duration of contraction through a smartphone. Eleven healthy young individuals participated in this study. We asked the participants to walk with two PAMs attached to the left hip joint and a pressure sensor placed under the right heel to trigger the contraction. During the experiment, the contraction parameters were randomly changed: 0, 100, or 200 ms for the delay and 0, 100, 200, or 300 ms for the duration. The experimental results revealed significant differences in the hip and knee flexion angles, hip joint angular excursion, and stride length among the conditions. In addition, the optimal parameter differed among the subjects. It was confirmed that this individual variation was related to the walking speed of the subject, without PAM assistance.