Exoskeleton-Based Lower Limb Rehabilitation Robot Design and Simulation for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Squat gait is the most common abnormal gait in children with cerebral palsy. Gait training with lower limb rehabilitation robots can improve rehabilitation efficiency and reduce manual labor for them. A novel exoskeleton-based lower limb rehabilitation robot for children with cerebral palsy is proposed, considering the squat gait characteristics of children with cerebral palsy. The structure of the lower limb rehabilitation robot, which combines hip and knee with 4 active degrees of freedom exoskeleton and mobile walker, is designed and optimized. Static analysis of the key mechanical structure of the exoskeleton is conducted using ANSYS Workbench, and local structures are optimized to ensure the safety factor of the mechanical structure is greater than 1, guaranteeing reasonable structural strength and stiffness design. Dynamic simulation analysis based on the ADAMS model validates the reliability and dynamic walking effect of the lower limb exoskeleton rehabilitation robot, obtaining the curve relationship between joint angles and motion cycles, thus verifying the effectiveness of the mechanical system motion.