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Maintaining balance after trips: role of movement patterns
Humans use stereotypical movement patterns to recover from trips during walking, but how we choose which pattern to use is poorly understood. The goal of this project is to determine whether single or multiple responses are necessary to ensure balance recovery after trips in a model of human gait.
The Rehabilitation Engineering Lab (RELab) is working on the control of gait assistive devices, such as prostheses and orthoses. Although previous work with these devices allows steady-state gait – such as walking and stair climbing –, current devices do not respond to external perturbations such as slips and trips. Unimpaired humans use different movement patterns – called recovery strategies – to recover from trips. However, how the body selects which recovery strategy to use is not understood.
This project is focused on simulating recovery strategies following trips at different points of the gait cycle, to determine the effectiveness and limitations of each strategy. The work will encompass aspects of biomechanics and mechanical modelling and simulation.
The acquired knowledge will allow us to better understand the mechanisms associated with human balance recovery, and design a response that would potentially avoid falls and allow prosthesis and orthosis users to maintain balance after trips.
The Rehabilitation Engineering Lab (RELab) is working on the control of gait assistive devices, such as prostheses and orthoses. Although previous work with these devices allows steady-state gait – such as walking and stair climbing –, current devices do not respond to external perturbations such as slips and trips. Unimpaired humans use different movement patterns – called recovery strategies – to recover from trips. However, how the body selects which recovery strategy to use is not understood. This project is focused on simulating recovery strategies following trips at different points of the gait cycle, to determine the effectiveness and limitations of each strategy. The work will encompass aspects of biomechanics and mechanical modelling and simulation. The acquired knowledge will allow us to better understand the mechanisms associated with human balance recovery, and design a response that would potentially avoid falls and allow prosthesis and orthosis users to maintain balance after trips.
Determine the effectiveness of different kinematic strategies in recovering balance after trips throughout the gait cycle.
The project will start with familiarization with the literature in trips and (bio)mechanical modelling. A simple walking model will be used to simulate trips and responses, and determine when specific strategies avoid falls. The study should include detailed analysis of the parameters that are critical to successful recovery. Finally, the project will be presented to the supervisors and lab members.
Determine the effectiveness of different kinematic strategies in recovering balance after trips throughout the gait cycle. The project will start with familiarization with the literature in trips and (bio)mechanical modelling. A simple walking model will be used to simulate trips and responses, and determine when specific strategies avoid falls. The study should include detailed analysis of the parameters that are critical to successful recovery. Finally, the project will be presented to the supervisors and lab members.
- 20% literature research
- 40% modeling and simulations
- 20% comparison to experimental data
- 20% report/presentation
- 20% literature research - 40% modeling and simulations - 20% comparison to experimental data - 20% report/presentation
Experience with modeling and simulation in MATLAB/Simulink is required, as well as solid theoretical background in system dynamics. A proactive and independent work ethic is of critical importance. If you're interested, please send a short CV and a copy of your transcript (a screenshot is fine).
Experience with modeling and simulation in MATLAB/Simulink is required, as well as solid theoretical background in system dynamics. A proactive and independent work ethic is of critical importance. If you're interested, please send a short CV and a copy of your transcript (a screenshot is fine).
Camila Shirota
Rehabilitation Engineering Lab, ETH Zürich
camila.shirota@hest.ethz.ch
www.relab.ethz.ch
Each year the IDEA League offers the students of its partner universities over 180 monthly grants for a short-term research exchange. In general, these grants are awarded based on academic merit. For more information visit http://idealeague.org/student-grant/