The majority of China’s intangible cultural heritage is rooted in rural areas, and the integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) with rural resources has potential for sustainable development. This study develops a theory of sustainable livelihoods for ICH rural areas, employing design intervention strategies to strengthen core capital, thereby promoting the protection of ICH and the sustainable development of rural areas. Through a case study of China’s ICH, specifically Luanzhou shadow play, this study focuses on core livelihoods capital: design capital and cultural capital. The key elements of the two were analyzed through the use of interviews and questionnaires. The Luanzhou shadow play was redesigned for cultural and creative products and digital application innovation. This approach effectively meets the needs of the target groups and meets the requirements of rural revitalization and ICH, thereby enhancing the adaptability and resilience of rural areas. This study offers a new development path for the heritage of Luanzhou shadow play and local rural areas while also providing a reference for the differentiated development of other non-legacy rural areas.

Conventional lower-limb rehabilitation robots are large, complicated to wear, and require moving the patient to a designated position. To solve these problems, a new single-legged lower-limb rehabilitation robot (S-LLRR) that is easy to move and suitable for different height carriers was proposed. The mechanical leg has a variable working space, and its rotating joints are designed with mechanical limiters. The series configuration of the S-LLRR was analyzed, and trajectory planning was performed based on continuous linear motion training. Meanwhile, an active training control method based on the sand model was proposed to enhance the motion sensation of patients, and an active participation degree evaluation model was designed based on human physiological information. The simulation and experimental results showed that S-LLRR had a large workspace and good motion accuracy, and the accuracy of the active participation degree evaluation model could reach more than 85%. This research could provide a theoretical basis for improving the standardization and compliance of lower-limb robot rehabilitation training.