Development of a Biomechanical Bike with Assistive Technologies to Be Used for Rehabilitation

This paper presents a system named ExoBike, a structure similar to a bicycle, that takes over the function of an exoskeleton with rehabilitation purposes. The proposed system enables the control of limb movements based on the sensor data and the patient intentions. For that it has an adapted seat and several mechanical interface zones that have a set of sensors and actuators that enable therapeutics to implement an active/passive system that reacts dynamically to the needs of the disease under evaluation. The type and intensity of the training may be programmed by the medical staff that receives feedback in the software from the wireless sensors. The ExoBike allows the therapeutic professionals to put into practice adapted therapies with adjusted efforts for different patients. The patients’ movements are monitored using a set of wireless sensors network, implementing a personal virtual reality solution where the patient “play” in an environment strongly connected with reality.