Research on a multimodal actuator-oriented power-assisted knee exoskeleton

A multimodal actuator was proposed to achieve a more agile power-assisted exoskeleton in uncertain complex walking environments. A power-assisted knee exoskeleton prototype based on a multimodal actuator was constructed. With this multimodal actuator, several modes of operation in the power-assisted knee exoskeleton during a motion cycle are actuated, including series elastic actuation, stiff position control, and energy storage and release. Also, a control strategy for power-assisted knee exoskeleton motion control based on a state machine is developed. The ability of the power-assisted knee exoskeleton to follow human motion was tested, and the results showed that the angle error of the knee exoskeleton followed the human motion is not more than 0.4˚, and the response time error of the knee exoskeleton followed the human motion is not more than 0.2 s.