An exoskeleton and method of reducing the energy consumption of a person in motion coupled to an exoskeleton device

摘要

A lower extremity exoskeleton (100), configurable to be coupled to a person, includes two leg supports (101, 102) configurable to be coupled to the person's lower limbs, an exoskeleton trunk (109) configurable to be coupled to the person's upper body, which is rotatably connectable to the thigh links (103, 104) of the leg supports (101, 102) allowing for the flexion and extension between the leg supports (101, 102) and the exoskeleton trunk (100), two hip actuators ( 145, 146) configured to create torques between the exoskeleion trunk (109) and the leg supports (101, 102), and at least one power unit (201) capable of providing power to the hip actuators (145, 146) wherein the power unit (201) is configured to cause the hip actuator (145, 146) of the leg support (101, 102) in the swing phase to create a torque profile such that force from the exoskeleton leg support (101, 102) onto the person's lower limb during at least a portion of the swing phase is in the direction of the person's lower limb swing velocity.