Starting date: May the 8th 2019
Duration: 20 months

 
Project category

OPTION 1: develop a benchmarking solution for one specific benchmarking scenario including one or more outcomes: testbed, software routines and/or experimental datasets.

 
Application

Wearable robots & Humanoids

 
Outcome

Software & Dataset

 
Team:

COORDINATOR:

  • Vrije Universiteit Ámsterdam (The Netherlands)

Partner 2:

  • Military Rehabilitation Center Aardenburg (The Netherlands)

Partner 3:

  • Heliomare (The Netherlands)

Abstract
Stability of gait is challenged by irregular surfaces, such as laterally inclined surfaces or slopes. Exoskeletons/humanoids should be able to adapt to changes in surface angle to reduce the risk of falling. To assess to what extent these devices allow or succeed in these adaptations, we will develop and test protocols and analysis routines for benchmarking “Walking on Laterally Inclined Surfaces”, “Walking on Slopes“ and “Walking on Treadmill (with platform perturbations)” and we will collect reference datasets for these scenarios and outcomes in able-bodied controls and people using selected assistive devices. In doing so, we will use gait stability, quantified by means of local divergence exponents, coordination between center of mass state and foot placement and margins of stability as main outcome measures, but will also include more traditional outcome measures, such as spatiotemporal parameters and joint kinematics/ kinetics. The neuromechanics section at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has a strong track record in developing and validating (gait) stability measures. Heliomare Research and Development and MRC Aardenburg, the other consortium partners, have successfully applied these measures in several clinical studies. In recent years, VU Amsterdam and Heliomare have also been involved in several large (EU funded) projects on exoskeletons. MRC Aardenburg has state of the art research facilities to assess the above-mentioned scenarios. These are three key components needed for success in this Eurobench sub-project. Since the three partners have successfully collaborated, we foresee efficient teamwork. We will deliver a minimal and flexible measurement protocol and data analysis software to assess how exoskeletons and humanoids perform in difficult environments, which can be implemented in the Eurobench framework. Moreover, we will deliver a reference database to benchmark performance of exoskeletons, humanoid robots and prosthetic and orthotic devices.