Design of a Novel LLE for Energy Saving

Abstract

Powering lower limb assistance/augmentation systems throughout long time periods is one of the major challenges in such an area. Researchers have proposed many solutions to diminishing energy consumption in such systems, many of which rely on the user’s biomechanics, that is, the design is intended to take advantage of the user’s inertia to spare/store energy in some subphases of the walking cycle and use or release it in the subphases with the greatest energy requirement. We have approached this issue and developed a lower limb exoskeleton that would spare up to 47% of the energy required throughout the walking cycle. We have achieved this by adding a clutch at the hip to set it passive during the stance phase. Such a mechanism could be implemented in a wide range of lower limb exoskeletons with successful results.