Effects of a lower-body exoskeleton device on metabolic cost and gait biomechanics during load carriage

摘要

This study investigated the effects on metabolic cost and gait biomechanics of using a prototype lower-body exoskeleton (EXO) to carry loads. Nine US Army participants walked at 1.34 m/s on a 0% grade for 8 min carrying military loads of 20 kg, 40 kg and 55 kg with and without the EXO. Mean oxygen consumption (VO_2) scaled to body mass and scaled to total mass were significantly higher, by 60% and 41% respectively, when the EXO was worn, compared with the control condition. Mean VO_2 and mean VO_2 scaled to body mass significantly increased with load. The kinematic and kinetic data revealed significant differences between EXO and control conditions, such as walking with a more flexed posture and braking with higher ground reaction force at heel strike when wearing the EXO. Study findings demonstrate that the EXO increased users' metabolic cost while carrying various loads and altered their gait biomechanics compared with conventional load carriage.