Dynamically Enhanced Passive and Semi-Passive Intelligent Lower Limb Wearable Assistive Devices

200万加拿大人患有行动障碍，限制了他们的日常活动，随着人口老龄化，这一数字还在增加。这些老龄化人口希望维持他们的生活质量。然而，目前可用的可穿戴下肢辅助装置只考虑残疾或截肢的位置、解剖结构和舒适度，很少考虑动态性能。使用电动、液压或气动执行器以及可穿戴传感器和智能算法的主动、半主动甚至机器人设备也在开发中，但这些设备需要额外的元素，这些元素会导致设备体积大、重量重、不美观，对采用、合规性甚至舒适性产生负面影响。最近的研究表明，在日常使用中，如果器件本身的特性是动态调整的，则可以通过共振或周期同步等效应来增强移动性。这可以通过表征可穿戴辅助设备在真实负载条件下的动态特性来实现，与真实用户一起，检查用于这些设备的材料特性和制造工艺，并修改其几何形状以实现所需的动态响应。因此，该研究项目的总体目标是开发低姿态、轻量化的被动和半被动智能可穿戴辅助设备，这些设备可以根据个人定制的材料和几何参数增强移动性。为实现这一目标，拟议的方案将侧重于三个方面的调查。首先，将开发并验证一套用于评估当前下肢可穿戴辅助设备动态和振动性能的关键指标，利用这些指标开发基于替代下肢的实验平台，并与真实用户一起评估这些辅助设备在真实负载条件下的性能。第二个将是研究目前用于可穿戴辅助设备的材料如何影响其动态性能，并检查可能呈现有益性能的替代，先进和智能材料。辅助设备制造过程如何影响这些材料特性及其与设备动态响应的关系也将被探索。最后，将研究如何修改这些辅助装置的几何形状，以利用特别有益的材料特性或减少有害影响，同时考虑到个人的动态要求。该项目将为HQP在机械和生物力学设计、建模和分析方面的培训提供一个现代化和多样化的环境。渥太华大学和渥太华医院的世界级设施、卫生保健专业人员和用户将为HQP提供丰富和高度专业化的经验。

2 million Canadians suffer from a mobility disorder that limits their daily activities and this number is increasing as the population ages. This same aging population expects to maintain their quality of life. However, currently available wearable lower limb assistive devices only consider the location of the disability or amputation, its anatomy, and comfort with little regard for dynamic performance. Active, semi-active, or even robotic devices using electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic actuators coupled with wearable sensors and intelligent algorithms are also being developed, but these require additional elements that lead to bulky, heavy, and unsightly devices that have a negative impact on adoption, compliance, and even comfort. Recent studies have shown that passive devices can be used to enhance mobility via effects such as resonance or cycle synchronization during daily use if properties of the device itself are dynamically tuned. This can be achieved by characterizing the dynamic properties of wearable assistive devices under real loading conditions, with real users, examining the material properties and fabrication processes used for these devices and modifying their geometry to achieve the required dynamic response. Thus, the overarching goal of the research program is to develop low-profile and lightweight passive and semi-passive intelligent wearable assistive devices that enhance mobility based on material and geometric parameters customized to the individual. The proposed program will focus on three lines of enquiry towards achieving this goal. The first will be to develop and validate a set of key metrics for the evaluation of the dynamic and vibration properties of current lower limb wearable assistive devices, use these metrics to develop an experimental platform based on surrogate lower limbs, and evaluate the performance of these assistive devices under real loading conditions, with real users. The second will be to study how materials currently used for wearable assistive devices affect their dynamic performance and examine alternative, advanced, and smart materials that may present beneficial properties. How assistive device manufacturing processes affect these material properties and their relationship to the device's dynamic response will also be explored. Finally, methods for modifying the geometry of these assistive devices to take advantage of particularly beneficial material properties or reduce detrimental effects, while accounting for individual dynamic requirements will be investigated. This program will provide a modern and diverse environment for training HQP in mechanical and biomechanical design, modelling and analysis. Access to world-class facilities, health care professionals and users at the University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital will provide HQP with an enriched and highly specialized experience.