The disabled person rides a bicycle and runs … Korean science challenging the Cybaslon competition

# Kim Young-hoon (27), a paraplegic disabled person, has been riding a robotic bicycle at Chung-Ang University every weekend for two years. Kim was paralyzed in an accident while diving in 2016. However, if you get on the ‘robot bike’, you can move your own leg and step on the pedal without external power, such as a motor.

#Lee Joo-hyun (20, 1st class with physical disabilities) used a robot in the sports center of the Daejeon headquarters of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon on the morning of the 4th. Last year, three Weeks before graduating from high school, Lee was completely paralyzed in a car accident while on her way to visit her maternal grandmother. I normally live in a wheelchair, but if I use a robot, I can walk freely, go up and down stairs, and sit and sit.

Young-hoon Kim is riding a robotic bike at Chung-Ang University. He has paraplegia but pedals and bicycles alone. [중앙대 제공]

Kim Young-hoon and Lee Joo-hyun are representative players participating as Korean national teams in Cybathlon, an international competition for the disabled on the 13th of this month. Kim will compete in the ‘Electric Stimulation Bike’ event at Chung-Ang University, and Lee will compete in the ‘Wearable Exoskeleton Robot’ event at KAIST Daejeon headquarters. Cybaslon is a compound word for cyborg, which means human, and the Latin word athlon, which means game. It is a sports competition in which people with disabilities use bionic assistive devices such as robots and compete for records. Sport is ▶ Brain-machine interface ▶ Electric stimulation bike ▶ Robotic arm ▶ Robot prosthesis ▶ Electric wheelchair ▶ Portable exoskeleton robot. Both are working hard to shorten the record with the goal of winning the tournament.

The ‘Work in Suit 4’ was jointly developed by the research team of Professor Gyeong-cheol Gong from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST with the research team of Professor Dong-wook Na from the Severance Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of the Yonsei University. [KAIST 제공]

How can a disabled paraplegic ride a bike and walk? The secret is the electrical stimulation technology and the exoskeleton robot, respectively. The Korean national team will compete for the first time this year in the Cybaslon electric stimulation bike event. Professor Shin Dong-joon from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Chung-Ang University has developed an ‘Impro B’ robotic bicycle that can be ridden by paraplegic people with paraplegia, with the professor from Seoul National University of Science and Technology , Kim Jeong-yeop, Park Ki-won, professor at Incheon National University, and Yang Eun-ju, professor at Bundang Hospital of Seoul National University.

Impro B uses an artificial intelligence algorithm to measure the muscular condition of the disabled and generates an optimal muscle contraction signal. This allows the disabled to pedal with their own muscles without the help of external energy such as a motor. Paraplegics with disabilities can cycle at a maximum speed of 25 km / h. The muscle fatigue compensation algorithm also maximizes mileage. Professor Shin said: “After the competition, we will expand our research to intelligent mobility not only for the disabled, but also for the elderly and patients who need muscle support.”

Joo-Hyun Lee comes downstairs in a work suit 4 developed by KAIST’s Professor Gong Gyeong-cheol. [KAIST 제공]

Lee Joo-hyun’s exhibition is supported by Gong Gyeong-cheol, professor of mechanical engineering at KAIST. Professor Gong’s research team participated in the same event at the first Cybaslon competition in 2016 and won a bronze medal. In preparation for this year’s competition, Angel Robotics, Severance Rehabilitation Hospital, Yeungnam University and the Institute of Rehabilitation Engineering have cooperated to develop ‘Work-on Suit 4’. The walking suit 4 allows the user to stand for more than 1 minute without using a cane. Professor Gong explained, “The robot used by the players in the last tournament could not stand for a second without a baton,” and explained, “In addition to safety, various functions such as driving power, driving power, have been drastically improved. walking speed and wearing time. ”

The robot industry promises that commercialization of these portable robots featured at Cyathlon is not far off. The Korean Institute of Industrial Technology Assessment (KEIT) released a report on ‘Technology Trends and Prospects for Wearable Robot Industry’ in March this year. Rapid growth is anticipated. “Industry Research Institute predicts that the global market for wearable robots will grow at an annual average of 41%, from $ 528 million (6252 billion won) in 2017 to $ 8.3 billion ( 9.8 trillion won) in 2025.

Gong Kyung-cheol, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST, said: “Portable robots are not a distant future and they are already entering our daily lives,” he said. “Medical rehabilitation, support of daily life and uniform expansion in industrial sites”. He also said: “The essence of the Cybaslon competition is that research teams from different countries develop technologies to overcome obstacles through competition. Through this competition, we will disseminate our technology and learn global technology.”

Reporter Park Hyung-soo [email protected]