Intention-based walking support for paraplegia patient

This paper proposes an algorithm to estimate human intentions during walking. Not only walk start or stop but walking cycle is considered as the intentions in this paper. The algorithm is embedded into a walking support system, a wearable robot "Robot Suit HAL-3", for paraplegia patients. The estimation of patients\´ intentions is indispensable for effective and comfortable motion support, but the biological signals such as myoelectricity which is used for the support by HAL-3 cannot be measured properly. The proposed algorithm, therefore, estimates patients\´ intentions from other channels such as a floor reaction force and a body posture. The effectiveness of this algorithm is investigated through experiments with two types of patients. One has a sensory paralysis on both legs, especially a left leg has severe trouble. The other has troubles in sensory and motor ability on both legs. We show HAL-3 supports patients\´ walk comfortably, estimating patient intentions.