MORE | Fall 2024
Validating Impedance Control to Prevent Ankle Buckling using Cable-Driven Exoskeleton
Existing methods of treating ankle sprains with taping and bracing have not consistently improved weight-bearing capacity during walking due to restricted ankle motion and lack of active rehabilitation. This study introduces a method to control lateral ankle motion using impedance control of a cable-driven exoskeleton. To this end, the study simulates low, medium, and high ankle stiffness levels with the exoskeleton to assess their effect on ankle buckling. A two-degree-of-freedom robotic platform is used to simulate ankle sprains during walking. The study aims to determine whether simulated ankle stiffness via the exoskeleton effectively reduces ankle buckling during normal walking.
Student researcher
Vedant Choudhary
Robotics and autonomous systems
Hometown: Tempe, Arizona, United States
Graduation date: Spring 2025