Publications related to Bipedalism

Augmenting locomotor perception by remapping tactile foot sensation to the back

Olaf Blanke, Mohamed Bouri, Oliver Alan Kannape, Atena Fadaeijouybari, Selim Jean Habiby Alaoui

Background :Sensory reafferents are crucial to correct our posture and movements, both reflexively and in a cognitively driven manner. They are also integral to developing and maintaining a sense of agency for our actions. In cases of compromised reafferen ...

BioMed Central2024

Investigating the roles of reflexes and central pattern generators in the control and modulation of human locomotion using a physiologically plausible neuromechanical model

Auke Ijspeert, Andrea Di Russo, Dimitar Yuriev Stanev, Anushree Bapusaheb Sabnis, Stéphane Armand

Objective. Studying the neural components regulating movement in human locomotion is obstructed by the inability to perform invasive experimental recording in the human neural circuits. Neuromechanical simulations can provide insights by modeling the locom ...

Iop Publishing Ltd2023

Online Bipedal Locomotion Adaptation for Stepping on Obstacles Using a Novel Foot Sensor

Milad Shafiee Ashtiani

In this paper, we present a novel control architecture for the online adaptation of bipedal locomotion on inclined obstacles. In particular, we introduce a novel, cost-effective, and versatile foot sensor to detect the proximity of the robot's feet to the ...

IEEE2022

A computational modeling approach to study the neuromechanics of terrestrial locomotion

Shravan Tata Ramalingasetty

The main theme of my thesis will be to use neuro-muscular modeling techniques to study locomotion of terrestrial mammals. Locomotion is the ability of animals to interact with the environment to propel themselves in space. It involves co-ordination and pre ...

EPFL2022

Gait-dependent Traversability Estimation on the k-rock2 Robot

Auke Ijspeert, Matthew Alfonso Estrada, Mohammadreza Ebrahimi

Assessing the traversability of rugged terrain is a difficult challenge for legged robots, especially when they implement multiple, distinct gaits. We tackle this problem on the k-rock2 amphibious, sprawling gait robot by training a gait-dependent traversa ...

IEEE2022

Advancing coordination control of multi-limb robotic tasks: application to bimanual dynamic manipulation and bipedal reactive locomotion

Michael Bosongo Bombile

Bi-manual picking up of objects to toss them on a conveyor belt are dynamic manipulation activities generated daily in the industry. Such repetitive and physically demanding tasks are still done largely by humans for lack of similarly fast, precise, and ro ...

EPFL2022

CPG-RL: Learning Central Pattern Generators for Quadruped Locomotion

Auke Ijspeert, Guillaume Denis Antoine Bellegarda

In this letter, we present a method for integrating central pattern generators (CPGs), i.e. systems of coupled oscillators, into the deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework to produce robust and omnidirectional quadruped locomotion. The agent learns to ...

IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC2022

Toward an objective assessment of mobility in clinical and daily activity settings

Arash Atrsaei

Quantification of mobility is the key to monitor the progression of mobility disorders as well as the effect of an intervention. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) with dedicated algorithms can quantify postural transitions and gait as the two key aspects o ...

EPFL2021

Sprawling Quadruped Robot Driven by Decentralized Control With Cross-Coupled Sensory Feedback Between Legs and Trunk

Auke Ijspeert, Shura Suzuki

Quadruped animals achieve agile and highly adaptive locomotion owing to the coordination between their legs and other body parts, such as the trunk, head, and tail, that is, body-limb coordination. This study aims to understand the sensorimotor control und ...

2021

Robotic Elytra: Insect-Inspired Protective Wings for Resilient and Multi-Modal Drones

Dario Floreano, Charalampos Vourtsis, William John Stewart

Winged drones that fly in close proximity to obstacles or that are capable of aerial and terrestrial locomotion can benefit from protective systems that prevent damage to delicate aerial structures. Existing protective solutions focus on multi-copter drone ...

2021

Sensory modulation of gait characteristics in human locomotion: A neuromusculoskeletal modeling study

Auke Ijspeert, Andrea Di Russo, Dimitar Yuriev Stanev, Stéphane Armand

The central nervous system of humans and other animals modulates spinal cord activity to achieve several locomotion behaviors. Previous neuromechanical models investigated the modulation of human gait changing selected parameters belonging to CPGs (Central ...

2021

A unified framework for walking and running of bipedal robots

Ludovic Righetti, Elham Daneshmand

In this paper, we propose a novel framework capable of generating various walking and running gaits for bipedal robots. The main goal is to relax the fixed center of mass (CoM) height assumption of the linear inverted pendulum model (LIPM) and generate a w ...

IEEE2021

Repeated exposure to tripping like perturbations elicits more precise control and lower toe clearance of the swinging foot during steady walking

Silvestro Micera

Controlling minimum toe clearance (MTC) is considered an important factor in preventing tripping. In the current study, we investigated modifications of neuro-muscular control underlying toe clearance during steady locomotion induced by repeated exposure t ...

ELSEVIER2021

Spontaneous Gait Transitions of Sprawling Quadruped Locomotion by Sensory-Driven Body-Limb Coordination Mechanisms

Auke Ijspeert, Shura Suzuki

Deciphering how quadrupeds coordinate their legs and other body parts, such as the trunk, head, and tail (i.e., body-limb coordination), can provide informative insights to improve legged robot mobility. In this study, we focused on sprawling locomotion of ...

FRONTIERS MEDIA SA2021

Algorithms for Walking Speed Estimation Using a Lower-Back-Worn Inertial Sensor: A Cross-Validation on Speed Ranges

Kamiar Aminian, Anisoara Ionescu, Abolfazl Soltani

Walking/gait speed is a key measure for daily mobility characterization. To date, various studies have attempted to design algorithms to estimate walking speed using an inertial sensor worn on the lower back, which is considered as a proper location for ac ...

IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC2021

Coupling-dependent convergence behavior of phase oscillators with tegotae-control

Auke Ijspeert, Jonathan Patrick Arreguit O'Neill, Simon Lukas Hauser, Matthieu Guillaume Marie Dujany

A bio-inspired way to model locomotion is using a network of coupled phase oscillators to create a Central Pattern Generator (CPG). The recently developed feedback control method tegotae includes exteroceptive force feedback into the governing phase update ...

IEEE2021

Neuromuscular Controller Embedded in a Powered Ankle Exoskeleton: Effects on Gait, Clinical Features and Subjective Perspective of Incomplete Spinal Cord Injured Subjects

Auke Ijspeert, Florin Dzeladini

Powered exoskeletons are among the emerging technologies claiming to assist functional ambulation. The potential to adapt robotic assistance based on specific motor abilities of incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) subjects, is crucial to optimize Human-Ro ...

IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC2020

Amphibious and Sprawling Locomotion: From Biology to Robotics and Back

Auke Ijspeert

A milestone in vertebrate evolution, the transition from water to land, owes its success to the development of a sprawling body plan that enabled an amphibious lifestyle. The body, originally adapted for swimming, evolved to benefit from limbs that enhance ...

2020

The association of basic and challenging motor capacity with mobility performance and falls in young seniors

Kamiar Aminian, Anisoara Ionescu

Background: Understanding the association between motor capacity (MC) (what people can do in a standardized environment), mobility performance (MP) (what people actually do in real-life) and falls is important for early detection of and counteracting on fu ...

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD2020

Control Strategies for Lower-limb Exoskeletons: from Full Mobilization to Assistance of Balance

Romain Pierre François Baud

Bipedal locomotion is a remarkable feature of humans. This skill is necessary for the activities of daily living. Unfortunately, many people only partially benefit from it or miss it entirely because of a disability. This may result in a slower gait, less ...

EPFL2020