Design optimization platform for assistive wearable devices applied to a knee damper exoskeleton
Designing optimal assistive wearable devices is a complex task, often addressed using human-in-the-loop optimization and biomechanical modeling approaches. However, as the number of design parameters increases, the growing complexity and dimensionality of the design space make identifying optimal so...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Wearable Technologies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717625100169/type/journal_article |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849429597610835968 |
|---|---|
| author | Asghar Mahmoudi Stephan Rinderknecht Andre Seyfarth Maziar A. Sharbafi |
| author_facet | Asghar Mahmoudi Stephan Rinderknecht Andre Seyfarth Maziar A. Sharbafi |
| author_sort | Asghar Mahmoudi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Designing optimal assistive wearable devices is a complex task, often addressed using human-in-the-loop optimization and biomechanical modeling approaches. However, as the number of design parameters increases, the growing complexity and dimensionality of the design space make identifying optimal solutions more challenging. Predictive simulation, which models movement without relying on experimental data, provides a powerful tool for anticipating the effects of assistive devices on the human body and guiding the design process. This study aims to introduce a design optimization platform that leverages predictive simulation of movement to identify the optimal parameters for assistive wearable devices. The proposed approach is specifically capable of dealing with the challenges posed by high-dimensional design spaces. The proposed framework employs a two-layered optimization approach, with the inner loop solving the predictive simulation of movement and the outer loop identifying the optimal design parameters of the device. It is utilized for designing a knee exoskeleton with a damper to assist level-ground and downhill gait, achieving a significant reduction in normalized knee load peak value by
$ 37\% $
for level-ground and by
$ 53\% $
for downhill walking, along with a decrease in the cost of transport. The results indicate that the optimal device applies damping torques to the knee joint during the Stance phase of both movement scenarios, with different optimal damping coefficients. The optimization framework also demonstrates its capability to reliably and efficiently identify the optimal solution. It offers valuable insight for the initial design of assistive wearable devices and supports designers in efficiently determining the optimal parameter set. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8cf2ce15b4d5482da88a880a62a8441d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2631-7176 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wearable Technologies |
| spelling | doaj-art-8cf2ce15b4d5482da88a880a62a8441d2025-08-20T03:28:18ZengCambridge University PressWearable Technologies2631-71762025-01-01610.1017/wtc.2025.10016Design optimization platform for assistive wearable devices applied to a knee damper exoskeletonAsghar Mahmoudi0https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4813-5359Stephan Rinderknecht1Andre Seyfarth2Maziar A. Sharbafi3Institute for Mechatronic Systems, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, https://ror.org/05n911h24 Technical University of Darmstadt , Darmstadt, Germany Lauflabor Locomotion Lab, Institute of Sports Science, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, GermanyInstitute for Mechatronic Systems, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, https://ror.org/05n911h24 Technical University of Darmstadt , Darmstadt, GermanyLauflabor Locomotion Lab, Institute of Sports Science, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, GermanyLauflabor Locomotion Lab, Institute of Sports Science, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, GermanyDesigning optimal assistive wearable devices is a complex task, often addressed using human-in-the-loop optimization and biomechanical modeling approaches. However, as the number of design parameters increases, the growing complexity and dimensionality of the design space make identifying optimal solutions more challenging. Predictive simulation, which models movement without relying on experimental data, provides a powerful tool for anticipating the effects of assistive devices on the human body and guiding the design process. This study aims to introduce a design optimization platform that leverages predictive simulation of movement to identify the optimal parameters for assistive wearable devices. The proposed approach is specifically capable of dealing with the challenges posed by high-dimensional design spaces. The proposed framework employs a two-layered optimization approach, with the inner loop solving the predictive simulation of movement and the outer loop identifying the optimal design parameters of the device. It is utilized for designing a knee exoskeleton with a damper to assist level-ground and downhill gait, achieving a significant reduction in normalized knee load peak value by $ 37\% $ for level-ground and by $ 53\% $ for downhill walking, along with a decrease in the cost of transport. The results indicate that the optimal device applies damping torques to the knee joint during the Stance phase of both movement scenarios, with different optimal damping coefficients. The optimization framework also demonstrates its capability to reliably and efficiently identify the optimal solution. It offers valuable insight for the initial design of assistive wearable devices and supports designers in efficiently determining the optimal parameter set.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717625100169/type/journal_articleoptimisationexoskeletonsdesignbiomechanicshuman motor control |
| spellingShingle | Asghar Mahmoudi Stephan Rinderknecht Andre Seyfarth Maziar A. Sharbafi Design optimization platform for assistive wearable devices applied to a knee damper exoskeleton Wearable Technologies optimisation exoskeletons design biomechanics human motor control |
| title | Design optimization platform for assistive wearable devices applied to a knee damper exoskeleton |
| title_full | Design optimization platform for assistive wearable devices applied to a knee damper exoskeleton |
| title_fullStr | Design optimization platform for assistive wearable devices applied to a knee damper exoskeleton |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design optimization platform for assistive wearable devices applied to a knee damper exoskeleton |
| title_short | Design optimization platform for assistive wearable devices applied to a knee damper exoskeleton |
| title_sort | design optimization platform for assistive wearable devices applied to a knee damper exoskeleton |
| topic | optimisation exoskeletons design biomechanics human motor control |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717625100169/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT asgharmahmoudi designoptimizationplatformforassistivewearabledevicesappliedtoakneedamperexoskeleton AT stephanrinderknecht designoptimizationplatformforassistivewearabledevicesappliedtoakneedamperexoskeleton AT andreseyfarth designoptimizationplatformforassistivewearabledevicesappliedtoakneedamperexoskeleton AT maziarasharbafi designoptimizationplatformforassistivewearabledevicesappliedtoakneedamperexoskeleton |