Walking Assistance Apparatus Turning Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional walking assistance apparatuses fail to recognize the transition from straight walking to turning walking, resulting in difficulties in performing smooth direction changes during turning.
Innovation Solution
A walking assistance apparatus equipped with sensors and a controller that detects changes in sensor data to recognize turning walking, adjusting control parameters such as torque and step length to facilitate smooth turning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional walking assistance apparatus maintains constant torque magnitude for both straight and turning walking, then the control system is simple, but smooth direction change during turning cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the torque control parameter variable rather than constant. The controller dynamically adjusts the magnitude of assistance torque based on whether the user is performing straight walking or turning walking, thereby enabling smooth direction changes while maintaining appropriate control complexity through systematic parameter variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the torque magnitude parameter according to walking mode. The controller changes the control parameter (torque magnitude) from a fixed value to a variable value that adapts to the user's walking pattern, allowing for smooth transitions between straight and turning movements.
2Ease of operation
If the walking assistance apparatus does not recognize turning walking, then the control algorithm is simple, but the assistance force cannot be optimized for turning movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a recognition algorithm that continuously monitors sensor data to detect whether the user is performing turning walking. The controller uses feedback from sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, etc.) to identify turning movements and adjusts assistance forces accordingly, optimizing turning operation smoothness through systematic feedback-based detection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the torque magnitude is kept equal for straight and turning walking periods, then the control system is stable, but smooth direction change is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing dynamic adaptation. The controller maintains stability through a systematic approach: it first determines the walking mode (straight or turning) using sensor feedback, then applies appropriate torque magnitudes accordingly. This dynamic adaptation allows smooth direction changes while maintaining control stability through rule-based parameter adjustment.
Data Source
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AI summary
A walking assistance apparatus receives sensor information, recognizes a turning walking of a user based on the sensor information, and adjusts at least one control parameter to assist the turning walking.