Citation

Alizadeh Noghani M, Browning D, Caccese V, DePoy E, Gilson S, Beaumont R, Hejrati B. Assist. Technol. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10400435.2021.1976885

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article presents the engineering design and preliminary testing of the Afari(TM) mobility device and the integrated Intrac(TM) activity tracking system. The patented Afari design is a three-wheeled mobility device that assists users of any age with mobility impairments with outdoor exercise and movement in various environments and surfaces. We devised methods for testing of the Afari to ensure safe and flexible mobility assistance and demonstrated a high level of stability and structural integrity suitable for vigorous outdoor exercise. A smartphone-based sensing system, the Intrac, was designed for and integrated with the Afari to monitor the user's interaction forces and important gait parameters. The Intrac offers a graphical user interface for displaying and sharing measurements with users and providers, and accuracy of the measurements was validated by testing its individual components. A preliminary subject study showed that the participants could use the Afari for various levels of weight compensation during walking, while the Intrac enabled the measurement of interactive forces on their arms and key gait parameters. The results demonstrate the potential of the Afari and Intrac to provide a safe walking experience in a variety of terrains and continuously monitor users' gait.

Language: en

Keywords

Design and evaluation; gait tracking; mobility assistance; wireless sensors