Yuichiro Honda

In this paper, we aim to develop a custom-made environment control system (ECS) in order to support daily living for physically handicapped persons. We modularized the ECS "Bio-remote" developed at Hiroshima University based on OpenRTM. The modularity enhanced flexibility and expandability of Bio-remote, and it made possible to operate by combining multiple input signals. In addition, we performed a trial test with an upper limb amputee in a room which was build to evaluate Bio-remote. We confirmed the operation of the prototype system and the advantage of the modularity that the system function can be easily modified and added.

The Robotic Stride Assistance System (SAS), developed by Honda R&D, is a wearable machine which can be expected to aid in the acquirement of a better gait for lower limb amputees through an improving walking cycle. In order to investigate the effect of SAS on improving the abnormal gait in amputees, SAS was applied to a trans-femoral amputee with an apparent abnormal gait. In this research, reduction of energy expenditure was obtained. Improvement of the abnormal gait was also achieved through an increase of the range of hip motion.