Stair climbing

About: Stair climbing is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1610 publications have been published within this topic receiving 30504 citations.

Self-propelled stair-climbing unit

Abstract: The self-propelled stairs moving unit A 1 moves on stairs, putting a manual wheelchair K on the pallet 7, by driving the front crawler traveling units 1a, 1b and the rear crawler traveling units 2a, 2b wherein right and left are unitedly connected with each other. When the stairs moving unit A 1 is started to go up to the stairs from the flat face of lower hand, the front crawler traveling unit la relatively gently goes up. Then, the angle between the pallet 7 to be held to be level with the connecting shaft 6 which is rotation center of the traveling unit 1a as its center of oscillation and the line connecting both connecting portions of the support frames 5a connecting the front and rear crawler traveling units 1a, 2a (that is, the self-propelled portion) is slowly changed. When the stairs moving unit A 1 is transferred from the upper end of the stairs to the flat face, the front crawler traveling unit 1a goes over the connecting point 6 of the support frame 5a which is the load center, it is rotated to move in a moment with the connecting shaft 6 as its center from the full line position along the inclined face of the stairs to the chain line position along the flat face, but the pallet 7 is still held to be level with the connecting shaft 6 as its oscillation center. Then, the pallet can be held to be level on the transfer part between the flat face and the stairs as well as on the flat face and the inclined face of the stairs, thereby no fear is given to the person on a wheelchair on the pallet.

Hybrid dynamic model of a wheeled double inverted pendulum

Abstract: The presented stair climbing device (SCD) allows consideration of applications like stair-climbing wheelchairs and assistive robots. It can be considered as a wheeled double inverted pendulum which goes through different contact situations during the stair-climbing. The derived hybrid dynamic model covers the whole stair-climbing functionality. A model analysis is shown from the control point of view whereat the state transition “lift-off” is described in detail considering conditions and limits for successful transition. Presented simulation results give an insight into system properties. The “lift-off” simulation is compared with measurements of the real SCD prototype.

Compromised knee internal rotation in total knee arthroplasty patients during stair climbing.

Abstract: Due to the significant role of rotational properties for normal knee function, this study aimed to investigate transverse plane kinematics and kinetics in total knee arthroplasty and unicondylar knee arthroplasty patients during activities of daily living compared to a healthy control group, including stair ascent and descent. The study participants consisted of a total knee arthroplasty group including posterior cruciate retaining and posterior stabilized designs as well as a unicondylar knee arthroplasty group and a healthy control group. Three-dimensional kinematics and kinetics were captured using a Vicon system and two Kistler force plates embedded in the floor and another two in a staircase. Inverse dynamics of the lower limbs was computed in Anybody™ Modeling System. Transverse plane joint angles and joint moments were analyzed utilizing the statistical non-parametric mapping approach, considering the entire curve shape for statistical analysis. The patients with total knee arthroplasty exhibited significantly reduced knee internal rotation of the operated knee compared to the control group and the patients’ unimpaired limb, especially during the stair climbing tasks. Both unicondylar and total knee arthroplasty patients were found to have similar reduced internal rotation motion time series in stair descent. In conclusion, potential kinematic and kinetic benefits of unicondylar knee arthroplasty over total knee arthroplasty could not be proven in the current study. Aside from the usually mentioned reasons inducing constrained knee internal rotation in total knee arthroplasty patients, future studies should investigate to what extent co-contraction may contribute to this functional impairment in patients after knee arthroplasty surgery.

Study on design methodology of power-assisted luggage cart with rotational arms for stair climbing

Abstract: Power-assisted luggage carts that are capable of climbing stairs using actuated rotational arms with unactuated wheels at the ends of the arms are proposed. A unified optimum design, including the number of arms, is analyzed and discussed from the perspective of motion smoothness and assist capability. With the appropriate selection of the number of arms and dimensional design of the arm length and wheel radius, the motion fluctuation can be reduced to less than 40 mm on stairs with normal going and riser dimensions. It was found that the mechanical work by the operator could be reduced to one fourth using the proposed mechanism with rotating arms by an actuator.