Starting date: June the 11th 2019
Duration: 20 months

 
Project category

OPTION 1: develop a benchmarking solution for one specific benchmarking scenario including one or more outcomes: testbed, software routines and/or experimental datasets.

 
Application

Wearable robots

 
Outcome

Test Bed, Sofware & Dataset

 
Team:

COORDINATOR:

  • University of Twente (Netherlands)

 

Partner 2:

  • Polytechnic University of Madrid (Spain)


Partner 3:

  • Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma (Italy)

Abstract
BenchBalance is a benchmarking solution proposed to conduct reproducible assessments of balance in various conditions, mainly focused on wearable robots but also applicable to humanoids. The main goal of this testbed is to improve the current methods of balance assessment and stabilization capability of wearable exoskeletons designed for assistance of people with motor disorders. To approach this goal, BenchBalance integrates two key elements: (1) a portable perturbator equipped with different sensors, which can provide and quantify well-defined pushes to the human upper body during both, standing and walking conditions; and (2) a position system detector, which determines the location of the generated disturbance in relation to the human wearing the exoskeleton. BenchBalance proposes a low-cost system that provides a quantitative assessment related to the reaction and capacity of wearable exoskeletons to respond to controlled external perturbances. The information of the provided external force (magnitude, direction and location) will be combined with data from the wearable exoskeleton and a motion capture system (Mo-Cap) in order to generate an accurate balance assessment. In this assessment we will relate the provided push to the time needed to correct for the perturbation and the magnitude of the induced body-sway. BenchBalance is a portable system (low weight, manageable size and battery powered), and thereby, it is possible to implement the balance assessment in any type of circumstance (inside or outside environments and static or dynamic conditions). Moreover, the replicability of the system is ensured due to the use of basic components and 3D-printed materials.