1. Locomotion on Dynamically Adaptive Terrain
Nikolaos Papachatzis1, Travis Vanderheyden1, Jacob Bloomberg2, Kota Z. Takahashi1
Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182
NASA-Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058
INTRODUCTION
METHODS: CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
Treadmills that can simulate uneven terrains [1] have direct applications for basic and applied research in human movement science. A B
Figure 2: (A) A single cell with an actuator that can be dynamically programmed to hold position at any height between 0” and 3”, with a resolution of about 1/8”. (B) A row/plate of the actuators. To program the actuators, we will use Matlab and Arduino IDE and hardware.
Figure 1: An uneven surface treadmill comprised primarily of wood and foam blocks placed in horizontal strips across the existing treadmill surface1
Traditional treadmills cannot simulate uneven terrains that are dynamic. (i.e., uneven surface that change with every belt revolution).
Purpose: To development a treadmill which can dynamically replicate complexity and unrepeatability of a natural uneven terrain.
Long-Term Goals:
Investigate the basic principles governing sensorimotor functions in human locomotion.
Develop novel interventions to retrain people with mobility-affecting disorders (e.g.. astronauts, amputees). A
PRELIMINARY PROTOTYPE
Figure 3: Variable Surface Treadmill
The surface is comprised of hundreds of individual actuators that can be dynamically programmed. B
DISCUSSION
Currently the treadmill is used to examine the effects of a static rough terrain on non-amputee and amputated population's locomotion.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Figure 4: (A) A static rough terrain was deigned as an initial prototype. The terrain was designed to present unique features with each new footstep. (B) A participant tested out the surface while wearing a pair of prosthetic boots as a pilot subject.
This work was supported by: NASA Nebraska Space Grant
REFERENCES
Voloshina AS, et al. J of Experimental Biology, 216(21), , 2013.