Communications of the ACM
Exoskeleton Research Demonstrates Importance of Training
Research shows that training plays a significant role in how well exoskeletons provide assistance.
Credit: Farrin Abbott
Stanford University scientists found training is critical for reaping the benefits of exoskeleton use.
Stanford's Katherine Poggensee and Steve Collins tracked the progress of 15 people equipped with an ankle exoskeleton emulator that accommodated customization and refinement through laboratory-based controllers.
One group of participants received generic assistance from the emulator; a second group received continuous optimization of the device to their specific needs, and a third group underwent daily optimization resets.
Subjects receiving continuous optimization and exposure to moderate variety spent nearly 40% less energy than those walking with the exoskeleton deactivated.
Training also contributed about half of the overall benefit offered by the exoskeleton across all participants, while about 25% was due to customization.
From Stanford News Service
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Abstracts Copyright © 2021 SmithBucklin, Washington, DC, USA
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