Methods and systems for guidance of human locomotion
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for guiding locomotion speed in a human during a locomotion event, the method comprising:
- estimating the subject'"'"'s actual locomotion speed during the locomotion event using one or more sensors to thereby obtain a measured speed as a distance per unit time;
determining an error as a distance per unit time during the locomotion event, the error comprising a difference between a desired speed at a particular instant during the locomotion event as a distance per unit time and the measured speed for the particular instant during the locomotion event; and
outputting, to the subject during the locomotion event, a stimulus frequency signal comprising a tempo wherein the tempo of the stimulus frequency signal is based on the error in such a manner that when the subject ambulates with a gait frequency that matches the tempo of the stimulus frequency signal, the subject'"'"'s actual speed as a distance per unit time during the locomotion event controllably tracks the desired speed;
wherein outputting the stimulus frequency signal based on the error comprises determining a first control term proportional to the error which is used, at least in part, to determine the stimulus frequency signal; and
wherein outputting the stimulus frequency signal based on the error comprises determining a second control term proportional to a time integral of the error which is used, at least in part, to determine the stimulus frequency signal.
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Abstract
A method is provided for guiding locomotion speed in a human or other animal subject. The method comprises: estimating the subject'"'"'s actual locomotion speed using one or more sensors to thereby obtain a measured speed; determining an error comprising a difference between a desired speed and the measured speed; and outputting, to the subject, a stimulus frequency signal wherein the stimulus frequency signal is based on the error in such a manner that when the subject ambulates in a manner that matches a frequency of the stimulus frequency signal, the subject'"'"'s actual speed controllably tracks the desired speed.
51 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method for guiding locomotion speed in a human during a locomotion event, the method comprising:
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estimating the subject'"'"'s actual locomotion speed during the locomotion event using one or more sensors to thereby obtain a measured speed as a distance per unit time; determining an error as a distance per unit time during the locomotion event, the error comprising a difference between a desired speed at a particular instant during the locomotion event as a distance per unit time and the measured speed for the particular instant during the locomotion event; and outputting, to the subject during the locomotion event, a stimulus frequency signal comprising a tempo wherein the tempo of the stimulus frequency signal is based on the error in such a manner that when the subject ambulates with a gait frequency that matches the tempo of the stimulus frequency signal, the subject'"'"'s actual speed as a distance per unit time during the locomotion event controllably tracks the desired speed; wherein outputting the stimulus frequency signal based on the error comprises determining a first control term proportional to the error which is used, at least in part, to determine the stimulus frequency signal; and wherein outputting the stimulus frequency signal based on the error comprises determining a second control term proportional to a time integral of the error which is used, at least in part, to determine the stimulus frequency signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for guiding locomotion speed in a human during a locomotion event, the method comprising:
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estimating the subject'"'"'s actual locomotion speed during the locomotion event using one or more sensors to thereby obtain a measured speed as a distance per unit time; determining an error as a distance per unit time during the locomotion event, the error comprising a difference between a desired speed at a particular instant during the locomotion event as a distance per unit time and the measured speed for the particular instant during the locomotion event; and outputting, to the subject during the locomotion event, a stimulus frequency signal comprising a tempo wherein the tempo of the stimulus frequency signal is based on the error in such a manner that when the subject ambulates with a gait frequency that matches the tempo of the stimulus frequency signal, the subject'"'"'s actual speed as a distance per unit time during the locomotion event controllably tracks the desired speed; wherein outputting the stimulus frequency signal based on the error comprises determining a first control term proportional to the error which is used, at least in part, to determine the stimulus frequency signal; and wherein outputting the stimulus frequency signal based on the error comprises determining a third control term proportional to a time derivative of the error which is used, at least in part, to determine the stimulus frequency signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for guiding locomotion intensity in a human during a locomotion event, the method comprising:
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estimating the subject'"'"'s actual locomotion intensity during the locomotion event using one or more sensors to thereby obtain a measured intensity; determining an intensity error during the locomotion event, the error comprising a difference between a desired intensity at a particular instant during the locomotion event and the measured intensity for the particular instant during the locomotion event; and if an absolute value of the intensity error is outside of a threshold region around the desired intensity during the locomotion event; estimating the subject'"'"'s actual locomotion speed as a distance per unit time at the particular instant during the locomotion event using one or more sensors to thereby obtain a measured speed as a distance per unit time for the particular instant during the locomotion event; converting the desired intensity to a desired speed as a distance per unit time; determining a speed error as a distance per unit time during the locomotion event, the error comprising a difference between the desired speed at the particular instant during the locomotion event and the measured speed for the particular instant during the locomotion event; and outputting, to the subject during the locomotion event, a speed-based stimulus frequency signal comprising a tempo wherein the tempo of the speed-based stimulus frequency signal is based on the speed error in such a manner that when the subject ambulates with a gait frequency that matches the tempo of the speed-based stimulus frequency signal, the subject'"'"'s actual intensity during the locomotion event approximately controllably tracks the desired intensity; and if the absolute value of the intensity error is within the threshold region around the desired intensity during the locomotion event; outputting, to the subject during the locomotion event, an intensity-based stimulus frequency signal comprising a tempo wherein the tempo of the intensity-based stimulus frequency signal is based on the intensity error in such a manner that when the subject ambulates with a gait frequency that matches the tempo of the intensity-based stimulus frequency signal, the subject'"'"'s actual intensity during the locomotion event controllably tracks the desired intensity. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A system for guiding a locomotion intensity of a human during a locomotion event, the system comprising:
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one or more first sensors for sensing one or more corresponding parameters of the locomotion movement of the subject during the locomotion event and for generating therefrom a measured speed as a function of distance per unit time which represents an estimate of the subject'"'"'s actual locomotion speed at a particular instant during the locomotion event as a function of distance per unit time; one or more second sensors for sensing one or more corresponding parameters correlated with an intensity indicator of the subject during the locomotion event and for generating therefrom a measured intensity which represents an estimate of the subject'"'"'s actual locomotion intensity at the particular instant during the locomotion event; a controller configured to; determine an intensity error during the locomotion event, the error comprising a difference between a desired intensity at the particular instant during the locomotion event and the measured intensity for the particular instant during the locomotion event; and if an absolute value of the intensity error is outside of a threshold region around the desired intensity during the locomotion event; convert the desired intensity to a desired speed as a distance per unit time; determine a speed error as a distance per unit time during the locomotion event, the error comprising a difference between the desired speed at a particular instant during the locomotion event and the measured speed for the particular instant during the locomotion event; and output, to the subject during the locomotion event, a speed-based stimulus frequency signal comprising a tempo wherein the tempo of the speed-based stimulus frequency signal is based on the speed error in such a manner that when the subject ambulates with a gait frequency that matches the tempo of the speed-based stimulus frequency signal, the subject'"'"'s actual intensity during the locomotion event approximately controllably tracks the desired intensity; and if the absolute value of the intensity error is within the threshold region around the desired intensity during the locomotion event; output, to the subject, an intensity-based stimulus frequency signal comprising a tempo wherein the tempo of the intensity-based stimulus frequency signal is based on the intensity error in such a manner that when the subject ambulates with a gait frequency that matches the tempo of the intensity-based stimulus frequency signal, the subject'"'"'s actual intensity during the locomotion event controllably tracks the desired intensity. - View Dependent Claims (59)
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Specification