Finite-time tracking control with velocity constraints for the stochastic rehabilitative training walker systems considering different rehabilitee masses

Abstract

This study discusses a finite-time tracking controller for a rehabilitative training walker that imposes velocity constraints. The walker was described using a stochastic model through which the rehabilitee mass can randomly change, and a velocity constraint method was proposed to control the velocity input to every omniwheel based on a model predictive algorithm. This approach is novel in that the velocity constraint information obtained from the kinematics model was used to design the tracking controller based on the stochastic dynamic model, thus successfully constraining the actual velocity of walker as per the stochastic system. The nonlinear tracking controller was built for the stochastic rehabilitative walker to make the system’s finite time stable. Also, simulation and experiment were performed, and results confirmed that the proposed tracking control method with velocity constraints is very effective, so it may enable various rehabilitees to train safely.