Patent ID: 6805677
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: A61F,B25J,G05B,G06F

Abstract:
A limb control or assistance device comprising:a first reporting means for reporting joint dynamics of a first body; and a first computing means associated with the first body, operatively connected to first reporting means and equipped with a first memory means for storing the joint dynamics over time for one or more body parts as a body executes an action or series of actions, thus capturing the joint dynamics of one or many thus-learned actions or types of learned actions; a joint control means for controlling or modifying some or all of the joint dynamics of a second body; a second computing means associated with the second body, operatively connected to joint control means, and equipped with a second memory means for storing and recalling learned actions, to direct the joint control means to replicate or approximate these stored joint dynamics over a time period; and a learned action selection means, associated with the second computing means, for selecting a previously stored learned action to be replicated or approximated; wherein learned action selection means, whether in the form of a user directing the computing means to pick the next of any number of available learned actions, or in the form of a software-driven computer selection of the most currently appropriate of the learned actions, or any combination thereof, can direct the body through a series of potentially complex learned actions by selecting, as needed, learned actions which are then transitioned-to and replicated or approximated.