A walking training system according to the present embodiment includes: a treadmill; a load distribution sensor that is provided on a lower side of a belt of the treadmill so as not to move together with the belt and that detects a distribution of a load received from a sole of a trainee riding on the belt of the treadmill; an extraction unit that extracts a load distribution in a region corresponding to a position of the sole of the trainee during walking training, out of a load distribution detected by the load distribution sensor; and a determination unit that determines a walking state of the trainee based on the load distribution extracted by the extraction unit.

A trunk supporting exoskeleton comprises: a supporting trunk; thigh links configured to move in unison with a wearer's thighs; and first and second torque generators located on both left and right halves of the wearer substantially close to the wearer's hip. The torque generators couple the supporting trunk to the thigh links, and generate torque between the thigh links and the supporting trunk. When the wearer bends forward such that a predetermined portion of the supporting trunk passes beyond a predetermined angle from vertical, a torque generator(s) imposes a resisting torque between the supporting trunk and the thigh link(s), causing the supporting trunk to impose a force against the wearer's trunk, and the thigh link(s) to impose a force onto the wearer's thigh. When the predetermined portion does not pass beyond the predetermined angle, the torque generators impose no resisting torques between said supporting trunk and respective thigh links.

A method for controlling an ankle-type walking assistance device may include measuring an angle of a joint of the walking assistance apparatus, calculating an angular velocity and a linear velocity of a frame of the walking assistance device using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) attached to the frame, generating a dynamics model for the walking assistance device based on the angle of the joint, the angular velocity and the linear velocity of the frame, calculating a disturbance applied to the walking assistance device based on the dynamics model, and controlling the walking assistance device based on the calculated force, equivalent, or wrench.

Described herein are various improvements to mobility devices. These improvements include, for example, adjustable lateral body supports, multi axial supports for accommodating movement of the pelvis during walking, frame folding assemblies for accommodating storage and transportation, detachable support couplings for supportive accessories, foldaway footplate assemblies for allowing users to rest, wheel brake systems, caster wheel systems, suspension support systems, control button assemblies, and center of gravity adjustment assemblies. One or more these improvements can be combined into various mobility devices as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

A body weight support system includes a support track, a trolley, and a power rail. The support track has a first portion and a second portion. The trolley has a support assembly and a drive assembly. The support assembly is configured to support at least a portion of a body weight of a user. The drive assembly is configured to movably suspend the trolley from the first portion of the support track when the user moves along a first surface and is configured to movably suspend the trolley from the second portion of the support track when the user moves along a second surface separate from the first surface. The power rail is coupled to the support track and is configured to be in electrical contact with a portion of the trolley as the trolley moves along the first portion and the second portion of the support track.

A suspension system (2) for assisting a user (4) to navigate a staircase (6), the suspension system comprising: a beam (8) positioned above the staircase (6); a carriage (18) displaceable along said beam (8) between a first position at the bottom of the staircase (6) and a second position at the top of the staircase (6); a harness (14) securable to the user (4), said harness (14) being operably connectable to said carriage (18) such that said carriage (18) follows the user (4) as the user (4) navigates the staircase (6); and a brake (42) operably connected to said carriage (18) for braking said carriage; wherein if the user (4) falls while navigating the staircase (6), said brake (42) stops said carriage (18) in place and the user (4) is suspended above the staircase.

The walking training device includes: a robot leg attached to one leg of a trainee; a treadmill; a load distribution sensor that detects a distribution of a load received from a sole of the trainee; and a walking state distinguishing unit that determines whether the one leg is in a swinging leg state; a control unit that performs a predetermined bending-extending control for the swinging leg state of the one leg by the robot leg when the one leg is in the swinging leg state; a measuring unit that measures a clearance between the one leg in the swinging leg state and the treadmill. The control unit changes control content of the predetermined bending-extending control so that the one leg does not contact the belt of the treadmill during extending control of the one leg, when the clearance is less than a specified value.

There is provided a dynamic and proactive system for supporting sitting while detecting and changing sitting postures of a user and method of operation thereof. The system including a frame, a plurality of supports, each configured to support a different body part, and a plurality of joints each configured to move independently of or together with any other of the joints, each of the supports is connected to the frame via a corresponding joint, at least one of the joints is a two dimensional joint which enables a change in angle between the frame and a corresponding support. Each one of the plurality of supports is configured to move with respect to the frame or to another support, thereby enabling any changes in sitting postures of the user. The system comprises sensors, which based on their readings, the system detects user postures and suggests or creates posture changes.

A bodyweight unloading locomotive device includes a frame configured to support locomotive movement, and an unloading assembly carried by the frame. The unloading assembly includes a spring having a fixed end coupled to the frame and an opposed free end, a cam assembly mounted to the frame for rotational movement, a first tether extending from the free end of the spring to the cam assembly, and a second tether extending from the cam assembly to a load. The unloading assembly exerts an unloading force on the load with respect to the frame.

A method of controlling a mobility device and related device including at least one actuator component that drives at least one joint component is described. The control method may include executing a control application with an electronic controller to perform: receiving a command in the control system of the mobility device for initiating an automated assessment and adjustment protocol; controlling one or more mobility device components to perform the automated assessment; electronically gathering user performance data associated with the automated assessment and determining user performance metrics; and electronically controlling one or more of the mobility device components in accordance with the performance metrics. The automated assessment includes controlling mobility device components to perform a predetermined assessment activity related to performance of the mobility device and/or user. Automatic adjustments to the device components, including adjusting tension and resistance levels of the joint components, may then be made based the performance metrics.