Abstract: Provided is a method for evaluating muscle strength characteristics of a limb based on a muscle group model including a first pair of antagonistic one-joint muscles, a second pair of antagonistic one-joint muscles, and a pair of antagonistic two-joint muscles, where the limb has a first rod having a proximal end supported by a first joint and a second rod supported on a free end of the first rod through a second joint. The method includes: measuring a maximum output of a free end of the second rod in at least one predetermined direction; measuring orbiting outputs of the free end of the second rod in all directions in the plane; and creating a hexagonal maximum output distribution corresponding to a contribution amount of each muscle of the muscle group model based on the maximum output in the predetermined direction and the orbiting outputs.

Abstract: A motion assist device, comprises a brace (2, 3, 5, 6, 11; 23, 24, 32, 35) configured to be worn by a user, an assist motor (4, 34) provided in association with the brace to assist a prescribed motion of the user, a control unit (10; 40) for controlling an operation of the assist motor, and an attitude detection sensor (8, 18; 38) connected to the control unit for detecting an attitude of the user. The control unit is configured to activate the assist motor when a prescribed attitude of the user is detected by the attitude detection sensor so that loads on parts of the user's body other than the part which is directly assisted can be minimized.

Abstract: Provided are a walking state estimating device and a walking state estimating method. A reference point Q (m) is defined at the bottom end portion of one of the pair of legs of a subject P, the one leg being estimated to be in a stance leg state, i.e. the one leg that is highly likely to be the supporting leg when the subject P changes the position and attitude of his/her torso. Hence, when the reference point Q (m) is changed, the position of the current reference point Q (m) can be estimated with high accuracy on the basis of the position of a previous reference point Q (m?1) before the change and according to the attitudes of the torso and the one leg at the time point at which the current reference point is defined after the change.

Abstract: Provided is a walking assist device independent of a deviation of a bending/stretching state between user's legs and applying a force to a user in a direction intended by the user. The walking assist device performs control so that the larger the deviation of a value of a bending/stretching state variable representing the bending/stretching state of each of a pair of right and left legs of a user P is, the larger the deviation between the assist forces Fr and Fl acting on the user P from each of the leg links 2 is.

Abstract: A motion assist device, comprises a brace (2, 3, 5, 6, 11; 23, 24, 32, 35) configured to be worn by a user, an assist motor (4, 34) provided in association with the brace to assist a prescribed motion of the user, a control unit (10; 40) for controlling an operation of the assist motor, and an attitude detection sensor (8, 18; 38) connected to the control unit for detecting an attitude of the user.

Abstract: An upper body motion measurement system 1 has a plurality of inertia sensor units 2, each of which incorporating an angular velocity sensor 4 and an acceleration sensor 5. The plurality of the inertia sensor units 2 is attached to places that are different from each other on the upper body of a subject P. Based on the detection outputs of the angular velocity sensor 4 and the acceleration sensor 5, the attitude of each of the inertia sensor units 2 is estimated, and the acceleration thereof is further estimated. The angular acceleration of the upper body of the subject P is estimated based on the estimated accelerations of the plurality of the inertia sensor units 2.

Abstract: Provided are a walking state estimating device and a walking state estimating method. A reference point Q (m) is defined at the bottom end portion of one of the pair of legs of a subject P, the one leg being estimated to be in a stance leg state, i.e. the one leg that is highly likely to be the supporting leg when the subject P changes the position and attitude of his/her torso. Hence, when the reference point Q (m) is changed, the position of the current reference point Q (m) can be estimated with high accuracy on the basis of the position of a previous reference point Q (m?1) before the change and according to the attitudes of the torso and the one leg at the time point at which the current reference point is defined after the change.

Abstract: A motor control device includes: a coil temperature detection unit which detects a coil temperature of a motor; an upper limit current determination unit which determines an upper limit value of a coil current in which a coil temperature after a lapse of a first predetermined time from the present is maintained at an upper limit temperature or lower, every time a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time elapses, by using a coil temperature detected by the coil temperature detection unit; and a coil current control unit which controls the coil current so as to be equal to or lower than the upper limit value.

Abstract: Provided is a walking assist device independent of a deviation of a bending/stretching state between user's legs and applying a force to a user in a direction intended by the user. The walking assist device performs control so that the larger the deviation of a value of a bending/stretching state variable representing the bending/stretching state of each of a pair of right and left legs of a user P is, the larger the deviation between the assist forces Fr and Fl acting on the user P from each of the leg links 2 is.

Abstract: An upper body motion measurement system 1 has a plurality of inertia sensor units 2, each of which incorporating an angular velocity sensor 4 and an acceleration sensor 5. The plurality of the inertia sensor units 2 is attached to places that are different from each other on the upper body of a subject P. Based on the detection outputs of the angular velocity sensor 4 and the acceleration sensor 5, the attitude of each of the inertia sensor units 2 is estimated, and the acceleration thereof is further estimated. The angular acceleration of the upper body of the subject P is estimated based on the estimated accelerations of the plurality of the inertia sensor units 2.

Abstract: Second joints are provided in positions where a seating unit is restrained from swinging relative to leg links due to a force acting on the seating unit from upper limb links through the intermediary of the second joints. A motion not intended by a user can be restrained from being generated due to a force acting from the upper limb links provided in the upper limbs.

Abstract: In the walking assist device, defining rigidity of a portion from the user to a first joint as K1 [N/m], rigidity of a portion from the first joint to the second joint as K2 [N/m] and rigidity of a portion from the second joint to one of the feet of a free leg of the user as K31 [N/m], when the user is supported by the support member, they are set as: (K1 +K31)<K2. With this, the assist force can avoid being affected by, in the direction of gravity, vertical displacement of a portion other than the main body of the device and the control accuracy of the assist force is enhanced accordingly, thereby improving the assisting feel sensed by the user P.

Abstract: A walking assistance device has a drive mechanism for driving a third joint of a leg link of the walking assistance device, the drive mechanism including a crank arm secured to a lower link member and a linear-motion actuator which has a linear-motion output shaft connected to the crank arm. The angle formed by a straight line connecting a joint axis of the third joint and a connecting portion of the linear-motion output shaft relative to the crank arm and a straight line which passes the connecting portion and which is parallel to the axial center of the linear-motion output shaft changes from an angle closer to the straight angle toward an angle closer to the right angle as the flexion degree of the leg link is increased from a flexion degree corresponding to a state wherein a user is in an upright posture.

Abstract: A walking assistance device has a load transmitting assembly, a foot-worn assembly, and a leg link provided between the load transmitting assembly and the foot-worn assembly. The foot-worn assembly has a ground contact member, on which a user's foot rests, and a connecting member which connects the ground contact member to a joint at a lower end of the leg link. The ground contact member is provided with tread force sensors and the foot-worn assembly permits detection of a tread force. The connecting member is formed so as to rise in a cantilever manner from one lateral side of the ground contact member. The tread force sensors are installed in at least one location adjacent to the heel of the user's foot and in at least two locations adjacent to toes of the user's foot, with the latter two locations being laterally spaced apart.

Abstract: A control system for a walking assist device includes a ground detecting means having a plurality of force sensors equipped to each foot attachment portion. Each ground sensor selectively outputs a ground state output and non-ground state output in accordance with whether the foot attachment portion is grounded at a position immediately below the ground sensor. The control system is equipped with means that continuously generate reference data for each of the ground detecting means, where the reference data increases and decreases in value in accordance with the change of a total number of the ground sensors generating ground state output in the ground detecting means. Also, a means that determines a mutual desired proportion of the supporting force to be applied to the both leg links from the floor side is provided.

Abstract: A walking assistance device providing an assistance force to a user is provided. The device compensates for an influence of an inertial force of the device itself. An actuator drives leg joints such that a total sum of supporting forces acting on the leg links from a floor side is a target total lifting force. The total sum of supporting forces acting on leg links from a floor side in reaction to a vertical inertial force generated in the device due to a motion of the device and the gravity acting on the device is estimated as a force which compensates for the self weight of the device. The total sum of a target value of a lifting force to be applied to the user and the estimated value of the force which compensates for the self weight of the device is defined as a target total lifting force.

Abstract: Provided is a walking assist device including a seat member having a holding portion to be held by a user, a leg link connected to the seat member, and a driving source capable of driving the leg link in a direction of pushing up the seat member. At least a part of the body weight of a user is supported by the leg link through the seat member. The walking assist device can be self-mounted easily by the user. When a holding detection unit detects that the holding portion is held by the user, the walking assist device performs a mounting assist control by driving the leg link in the direction of pushing up the seat member until a seating detection unit detects the contact of the seat member with the crotch of the user.

Abstract: A control device for a walking assist device is provided. The control device has a means that decides whether the total sum of measured values of treading forces of the legs of a user is greater than a predetermined value and a means which determines a predetermined ratio according to observed values or desired values of reference parameters obtained immediately before a negative determination result by using supporting forces acting on the leg links from the floor side as the reference parameters. This is in the case where the determination result of the decision means is negative and is a process undertaken instead of determining the predetermined ratio between the supporting forces acting on the leg links according to the measured values of the treading forces of the legs of the user.

Abstract: A walking assistance device is capable of preventing a load transmit portion thereof from falling due to gravity when the operation of an actuator of the walking assistance device is stopped. A leg link is provided with an elastic member that imparts, to a third joint, an urging torque for restraining the flexion degree of the leg link from changing from a predetermined first flexion degree due to the gravity acting on the walking assistance device in a reference state wherein a foot-worn portion connected to the load transmit portion through the leg link is in contact with a ground and the flexion degree of the leg link at the third joint is the first flexion degree.

Abstract: A walking assist device having a load transmit portion, a leg link connected to the load transmit portion, and a driving source capable of driving the leg link in a direction to raise a seat member, so that at least a partial weight of a user may be supported by the leg link through the load transmit portion. An electric component to be used for controlling the driving source can be mounted on the walking assist device without degrading the compactness of the walking assist device. At least a part of the leg link is constituted of a cylindrical link member in which at least the electric component, such as a motor driver to be used for the control of the driving source, is partially housed. The walking assist device also includes a heat transfer member for absorbing the heat of the electric component by the cylindrical link member. The heat transfer member is thermally connected to a side plate of the cylindrical link member directed toward the side opposite to the leg of the user.