Walking Assistance Evaluation Apparatus for Shear Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing evaluation methods for walking assistance apparatuses cannot sufficiently simulate the actual person's walking motion, particularly the standing leg and idling leg motions within a single walking cycle, leading to incomplete testing of the apparatus's strength and durability.
Innovation Solution
An evaluation apparatus that changes the relative positional relation between the placement part and the sole part of the walking assistance apparatus by adjusting the inclination angle, allowing for the simulation of actual walking motions through the application of load, thereby reducing shear loads and providing a more accurate evaluation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the load is applied in fixed positions (whole sole or part of sole placed on placing board), then the testing setup is simple, but the walking motion simulation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The placing board is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to change position relative to the sole part. This dynamic adjustment enables the apparatus to simulate different phases of walking motion (standing leg and idling leg) by varying the contact position between the placing board and the sole, thereby improving walking motion simulation accuracy without requiring an overly complex multi-component system.
Solution Approach 2:
The single movable placing board serves multiple functions: it can be positioned to simulate both the standing leg condition (when the whole sole or heel contacts the board) and the idling leg condition (when the toe contacts the board). This multi-functionality allows one component to replace what would otherwise require multiple fixed testing setups, improving simulation accuracy while maintaining relatively simple apparatus structure.
2Reliability
If the placement part is fixed, then the apparatus structure is simple, but shear loads are generated that are specific to evaluation tests rather than actual walking
Solution Approach 1:
The movable placing board dynamically adjusts its position to match the actual contact points during walking. By moving the placing board rather than keeping it fixed, the apparatus reproduces the natural distribution of forces during walking, thereby reducing artificial shear loads that would be generated by a fixed placement structure and improving evaluation accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure aims to provide an evaluation apparatus and an evaluation method capable of evaluating a walking assistance apparatus by simulating an actual person's walking motion. An evaluation apparatus 1 includes a placement part 5 on which a sole part of a walking assistance apparatus 4 to be evaluated is placed; an actuator 3 configured to apply a load to the walking assistance apparatus 4 in a direction of the placement part 5 in a state in which the sole part faces the placement part 5; and an actuator 6 configured to change a relative positional relation between the placement part 5 and the sole part.