“Smart Walker” Robotics-Based Mobility Device Funded by NIH
From: Rehab Manager - 12/03/2015

The "Smart Walker" project is led by Xiangrong Shen, PhD, associate
professor, department of mechanical engineering, University of Alabama,
Tuscaloosa, and strives to provide a product that will increase mobility for
the elderly. The robot is designed to have four legs and operate in two modes.

The robot has two modes: smart power-assist walker and smart mule. In the
smart power-assist walker mode, the user is situated within the robot and
chooses the amount of powered assistance that is needed. In the smart mule
mode, the robot walks alongside the user while carrying a load—for example,
groceries. The robot uses a 3D computer vision-based sensing system to detect
the user’s motion and the environment. With its smart legs, the robot is able
to easily overcome environmental obstacles in ways that powered wheelchairs
cannot.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.rehabpub.com/2015/12/smart-walker-robotics-based-mobility-device-funded-nih

Links:
Grace Peng
http://www.nibib.nih.gov/about-nibib/staff/grace-peng

NIH Rehabilitation Engineering
http://www.nibib.nih.gov/research-funding/rehabilitation-engineering