One of the embodiments of the invention is an actuator system for extending and flexing a joint. The actuator system includes a multi-motor assembly for providing a rotational output, a rotary-to-linear mechanism including a screw that accepts the rotational output of the multi-motor assembly and a nut that cooperates with the screw to convert rotational movement of the screw to linear movement of the nut, and a moving rail with a latch that functions to translate linear movement of the nut in both the extension and flexion directions into an extension and flexion of the joint. The actuator has been specifically designed for extending and flexing a joint (such as an ankle, a knee, an elbow, or a shoulder) of a human. The actuator system may, however, be used to move any suitable object through any suitable movement (linear, rotational, or otherwise).

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An actuator system for extending and flexing a joint, including a multi-motor assembly for providing a rotational output, a rotary-to-linear mechanism for converting the rotational output from the multi-motor assembly into an extension and flexion of the joint, and a controller for operating the actuator system in several operational modes. The multi-motor assembly preferably combines power from two different sources, such that the multi-motor assembly can supply larger forces at slower speeds (“Low Gear”) and smaller forces at higher speeds (“High Gear”). The actuator has been specifically designed for extending and flexing a joint (such as an ankle, a knee, an elbow, or a shoulder) of a human. The actuator system may, however, be used to move any suitable object through any suitable movement (linear, rotational, or otherwise).

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A lower extremity exoskeleton (100) includes: at least one power unit (201); two leg supports (101, 102) designed to rest on the ground (130); two knee joints (107, 108) configured to allow flexion and extension between respective shank (105, 106) and thigh links (103, 104) of the leg supports (101, 102); an exoskeleton trunk (109) rotatably connectable to the leg supports (101, 102); and two hip actuators (145, 146) configured to create torques between the exoskeleton trunk (109) and the leg supports (101, 102). In use, the hip actuators (145, 146) create a torque to move the leg supports (101, 102) backward relative to the exoskeleton trunk ( 109) during a stance phase, which pushes the exoskeleton trunk (109) forward. A second torque may be used to move the leg supports (101, 102) forward relative to the exoskeleton trunk (109) into a swing phase. Additionally, a swing torque may be generated during the swing phase to move the leg support (101, 102) forward relative to the exoskeleton trunk (109). This results in decreased oxygen consumption and heart rate of a user wearing the exoskeleton (100).

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The motion of the movable sections of the robot is taken for a periodic motion so that the attitude of the robot can be stably controlled in a broad sense of the word by regulating the transfer of the movable sections. More specifically, one or more than one phase generators are used for the robot system and one of the plurality of controllers is selected depending on the generated phase. Then, the controller controls the drive of the movable sections according to continuous phase information. Additionally, the actual phase is estimated from the physical system and the frequency and the phase of the phase generator are regulated by using the estimated value, while the physical phase and the phase generator of the robot system are subjected to mutual entrainment so that consequently, it is possible to control the motion of the robot by effectively using the dynamics of the robot.

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A semi-actuated above knee prosthetic system, which is mostly passive in nature and includes a shank link coupled to an artificial foot, a knee mechanism connected to the shank link and a thigh link attached to an above-knee remaining lower limb of an amputee, is operable in either an actuated mode or an un-actuated mode controlled by a signal processor linked to various prosthetic mounted sensors. In the actuated mode, power is delivered to a torque generator connected to the knee mechanism to cause a forced movement between the thigh and shank links. In the un-actuated mode, a control circuit operates in a non-powered manner to allow operation of the knee mechanism with modulated resistance. Power is delivered through an electric motor connected to a battery source and employed to drive a hydraulic pump which is part of an overall hydraulic power unit including the torque generator.

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