'Anklebot' helps determine ankle stiffness
From: ECN - 10/24/2013

Data could aid in rehabilitation from strokes, other motor disorders

Neville Hogan, the Sun Jae Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT and his
colleagues in the Newman Laboratory for Biomechanics and Human Rehabilitation
have measured the stiffness of the ankle in various directions using a robot
called the 'Anklebot'.

The robot is mounted to a knee brace and connected to a custom-designed shoe.
As a person moves his ankle, the robot moves the foot along a programmed
trajectory, in different directions within the ankle’s normal range of
motion. Electrodes record the angular displacement and torque at the joint,
which researchers use to calculate the ankle's stiffness.

The Anklebot is designed to train and strengthen lower-extremity muscles in a
'cooperative' fashion, sensing a person's ankle strength and adjusting its
force accordingly. 

The team will use the Anklebot to train patients to walk.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.ecnmag.com/news/2013/10/%E2%80%98anklebot%E2%80%99-helps-determine-ankle-stiffness
http://www.pddnet.com/news/2013/10/anklebot-helps-determine-ankle-stiffness
http://web.mit.edu/press/2013/anklebot-helps-determine-ankle-stiffness.html

Links:
Robotic Ankle Helps Stroke Patients Walk
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2005/stroke-robot.html

MIT develops 'Anklebot' for stroke patients
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-07/miot-md070505.php

Robot workout for stroke sufferers
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/08/15/spark.robotic.gym/index.html/

Related:
Stepping out in style: Michigan Tech developing artificial leg with natural gait
http://www.ecnmag.com/news/2013/10/stepping-out-style-michigan-tech-developing-artificial-leg-natural-gait

Brain-wave-reading robot might help stroke patients
http://www.ecnmag.com/news/2012/08/brain-wave-reading-robot-might-help-stroke-patients

Wearable robots getting lighter, more portable 
http://www.ecnmag.com/news/2013/05/wearable-robots-getting-lighter-more-portable

Robot Developed to Train and Strengthen Lower-Extremity Muscles 
http://www.ptproductsonline.com/news/18547-robot-developed-to-train-and-strengthen-lower-extremity-muscles/