Vietnamese scientist makes robot skeleton for stroke patients

The robot skeleton created by the research team at SHTP Labs has a mechanism similar to a human leg, serving physical therapy for people with strokes and leg injuries.

The product was implemented by 5 scientists from the precision mechanical and automation laboratory, Research and Implementation Center, Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park (SHTP Labs) in cooperation with a number of universities over the past 3 years. . According to Master Bui Quang Vinh, Head of Precision Mechanics and Automation Laboratory, SHTP Labs, the robot skeleton (Exoskeleton) is intended to support people in standing up, sitting down and maintaining balance while moving on the ground. favorable. The product is suitable for people with leg injuries, people with strokes and rehabilitation exercises. With the ability to assist, the skeleton can also help people carry heavy objects and support soldiers on long marches.

The group's idea came from the fact that products on the market mainly train different joints on the leg and are not comprehensive for the whole leg. In addition, when exercising, users have to stay in one place and cannot experience actual walking on their own, easily causing boredom and ineffectiveness. With the robot skeleton, patients can experience walking on their feet, helping the leg muscles work, making recovery better.

Testing leg rehabilitation using the group's robotic exoskeleton. (Video: Research team).

The robot skeleton is made mainly of aluminum material , weighs about 20kg, has the ability to increase or decrease height to match the height of human legs of different ages and physiques. At the joints of the skeleton are arranged 4 electric motors, with a capacity of 400W, with a gearbox to help increase or decrease the speed, suitable for different exercise intensities.

According to Master Vinh, the engine plays a very important role because it must meet the factor of being compact and not get stuck during exercise as well as aesthetics but needs to have a large capacity to ensure the load capacity of the legs. "Different from hand rehabilitation equipment, the leg training robot skeleton must ensure good center of gravity and not fall during use ," he said. To maintain the center of gravity, the team performed analyzes to maintain balance and developed a sit-up support system using an armrest frame with electric cylinders. When used, the patient will use the armrest frame as a way to practice standing up, sitting down and maintaining balance when doing leg exercises.

The power source used for the system includes two 20Ah lithium batteries, one for the robot skeleton, one for the armrest frame and control circuit. The two systems can operate at the same time with connecting cables or independently depending on their intended use. The product has an emergency button that stops all system operations when an error occurs that could endanger the user during exercise.

The team builds training management software using simulation tools. Through the exercise process, data about the change in angle of inclination of the leg joint, distance per step. are provided for doctors to set up exercises with appropriate intensity for the patient.

In the near future, the research team will cooperate with a rehabilitation hospital to test the system on a number of patients to evaluate its effectiveness, as a basis for product optimization, aiming for commercialization. The team also plans to design sensors mounted on the feet to measure exercise force and apply artificial intelligence to analyze data from the patient's exercise regimen to build more optimal exercises. "This is an interdisciplinary research direction, so it requires the participation of many experts, especially health agencies, to complete and bring the product to life ," Master Vinh said.

Exoskeleton design for group rehabilitation. (Photo: Research team).

Associate Professor, Dr. Le Hoai Quoc, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Automation Association, commented that in fact, research on exoskeletons for legs in Vietnam mainly stops at scientific topics, without many commercial products. commercial practical applications. He assessed that exoskeletons for rehabilitation of arms and legs have different differences and complexities. However, the leg exercise system must be able to carry the patient's body weight from sitting, standing, walking. This depends on each patient's physical condition and recovery status, so it is necessary to calculate a exactly.

He said that the group's research is currently at an early stage. To commercialize, it is necessary to test on many patients, evaluate their experiences and optimize the design and cost to perfect the product in terms of technology and appropriate price. "We will support the team in connecting with doctors specializing in rehabilitation and hospitals for testing. For the product to be applied, the scientist is only the one who provides the exercise equipment, and the doctor is the one who specify exercise regimes and conditions for each patient," Associate Professor Quoc said.