Variable Pivot Gait Based a Novel Dynamics Correction Method for Human Lower Limbs Model

Abstract

The rationality of gait analysis directly affects the dynamics of human lower limbs in the sagittal plane, and recent studies on gait stage redivision lack the stage when both feet are not in complete contact with the ground. This paper proposes a novel variable pivot gait, which includes the stage when the heel of one foot and the toe of the other are in contact with the ground and a dynamics correction method based on this gait. First, the relative motion data between the foot and the ground are measured by motion capture experiments, and then a variable pivot gait is proposed in terms of the pivot transformation between the foot and the ground. Second, the dynamics modeling is conducted based on the principle of mechanisms of human lower limbs in each stage of the variable pivot gait. Third, a dynamics correction method is proposed to correct the foot dynamics when the foot is not in complete contact with the ground. The experiment and simulation show that the variable pivot gait is consistent with the actual motion of the foot relative to the ground. The effectiveness of the dynamics correction method is proved by comparing dynamics results (hip, knee, and ankle moments) with previous studies. The variable pivot gait and the dynamics correction method can be applied to the human lower limbs and lower-limb robots, providing a new avenue.