Abstract
With 30 million people in the U.S. experiencing difficulties in performing a basic, yet crucial, function as walking, there is a call for a more user-oriented alternative that can alleviate this debilitating condition. As briefly mentioned, medical procedures and treatment for this condition are typically very expensive. Surgical procedures come with a slew of physical and emotional tolls, not to mention the risks. On the other hand, many of the current mechanical or biomechanical alternatives encompass a dimensionally complex lower limb exoskeleton system that lacks adaptive features. With the ABJ prototype, the fluidic muscle systems have the potential to outperform current traditional exoskeleton systems in terms of imitating the user’s natural gait. Additionally, with a closed-loop adaptive control system, the prototype also offers movement compensation capabilities that are immensely useful for rehabilitation in patients’ battle against KOA.
