Publication
Finding Optimal Placement of the Almost Spherical Parallel Mechanism in the Recupera-Reha Lower Extremity Exoskeleton for Enhanced Workspace
Ibrahim Tijjani
In: Andreas Müller; Mathias Brandstötter (Hrsg.). Advances in Service and Industrial Robotics. International Conference on Robotics in Alpe-Adria-Danube Region (RAAD-2022), Advances in Service and Industrial Robotics, June 8-10, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria, Pages 536-544, Mechanisms and Machine Science, Vol. 120, ISBN 978-3-031-04870-8, Springer International Publishing, 4/2022.
Abstract
The ankle joint of an exoskeleton plays a vital role in maintaining balance and posture during locomotion by grounding the upper body's weight.
Parallel designs are advantageous for constructing ankle joints in exoskeleton but challenges include complex workspace analysis and finding
the optimal placement in the overall structure of the exoskeleton. This paper presents a strategy for finding the optimal placement of the
prototype Active Ankle 3[R2[US]] mechanism in the Recupera-Reha lower extremity exoskeleton for enhanced workspace. To this end, rotative
inverse geometric model of the Active Ankle is exploited to find the alignment between principle human joint axes and axes along which the
range of motion is optimum. It is demonstrated that by rotating the mechanism along the adduction-abduction axis and by selecting appropriate
ball and socket joints, it is possible to enhance the usable workspace of the mechanism for the human wearing the exoskeleton.