MIT-Skywalker: considerations on the Design of a Body Weight Support System.

Journal: Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation
Published Date:

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To provide body weight support during walking and balance training, one can employ two distinct embodiments: support through a harness hanging from an overhead system or support through a saddle/seat type. This paper presents a comparison of these two approaches. Ultimately, this comparison determined our selection of the body weight support system employed in the MIT-Skywalker, a robotic device developed for the rehabilitation/habilitation of gait and balance after a neurological injury.

Authors

  • Rogério Sales Gonçalves
    Federal University of Uberlândia/Brazil, School of Mechanical Engineering, Av. João Naves de Ávila 2121 Campus Santa Monica CX 593, Uberlândia, MG, CEP 38408-100, Brazil. rsgoncalves@ufu.br.
  • Hermano Igo Krebs