An advanced bionic knee joint mechanism with neural network controller.

Abstract

In this article, a tensegrity-based knee mechanism is studied for developing a high-efficiency rehabilitation knee exoskeleton. Moreover, the kinematics and dynamics models of the knee mechanism are explored for bringing about further improvement in controller design. In addition, to estimate the performance of the bionic knee joint, based on the limit function of knee patella, the limit position functionality of the bionic knee joint is developed for enhancing the bionic property. Furthermore, to eliminate the noise item and other disturbances that are constantly generated in the rehabilitation process, a noise-tolerant zeroing neural network (NTZNN) algorithm is utilized to establish the controller. This indicates that the controller shows an anti-noise performance; hence, it is quite unique from other bionic knee mechanism controllers. Eventually, the anti-noise performance and the calculation of the precision of the NTZNN controller are verified through several simulation and contrast results.