Integration of sEMG-Based Learning and Adaptive Fuzzy Sliding Mode Control for an Exoskeleton Assist-as-Needed Support System

Abstract

This paper presents an adaptive Fuzzy Sliding Mode Control approach for an Assist-as-Needed (AAN) strategy to achieve effective human–exoskeleton synergy. The proposed strategy employs an adaptive instance-based learning algorithm to estimate muscle effort, based on surface Electromyography (sEMG) signals. To determine and control the inverse dynamics of a highly nonlinear 4-degrees-of-freedom exoskeleton designed for upper-limb therapeutic exercises, a modified Recursive Newton-Euler Algorithm (RNEA) with Sliding Mode Control (SMC) was used. The exoskeleton position error and raw sEMG signal from the bicep’s brachii muscle were used as inputs for a fuzzy inference system to produce an output to adjust the sliding mode control law parameters. The proposed robust control law was simulated using MATLAB-Simulink, and the results showed that it could instantly adjust the necessary support, based on the combined motion of the human–exoskeleton system’s muscle engagement, while keeping the state trajectory errors and input torque bounded within ±5×10−2 rads and ±5 N.m, respectively.