Intelligent human-assistive devices, sensors, and systems

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Many Canadians have a mobility impairment that affects their quality of life. This research aims to develop new assistive devices that provide greater functionality, mobility, and independence for disabled and elderly in the community. A new brace that locks at the knee for the leg to support body weight and unlocks to permit the leg to flex and swing forward will be refined to ensure wide acceptance by brace users. A hydraulic knee joint that also resists knee flexion to support the leg will be optimized to enable varied walking speeds. A method of objectively assessing walking stability is important in the rehabilitation assessment of persons where mobility is affected. A new dynamic walking stability analysis tool is being developed to provide objective clinical stability measurement that can be applied by clinicians at the point of patient care outside a lab. A brace that stabilizes the ankle-foot and assists in restoring function will be developed to resist falling in elderly, disabled, and leg injured. The device would reduce fatigue, and lead to a more active lifestyle, greater safety, independence, and quality of life for the user. A knee extension assist under development would permit stair climbing, standing from seated, walking up inclines, and stepping up onto curbs, for improved mobility and independence. Our 3D surface-shape measurement systems will be made adaptive to a variety of conditions that affect measurement accuracy to permit wide use in numerous applications including body shape measurement. Commercialization of all of the above technologies would result in economic benefits to Canada through manufacturing/distribution and reinvestment in research.