Intelligent walker to assist mobility

Development opportunity

Researchers at the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) have designed an intelligent walker (i-Walker) that can communicate with the user, think for itself and react to the environment. The device can understand voice commands and can be activated by means of simple instructions, such as “take me to the kitchen.”

i-Walker is based on intelligent multiagent systems technology that observes and interacts with its surroundings and has the ability to learn and communicate. This enables the device to adapt to the needs of users.

The i-Walker can be used for rehabilitation following injury or illness as it can help in the recovery and strengthening of motor skills by allowing the amount of aid provided to be adjusted under medical supervision. Parameters such as the effort made by the user in walking, the distance travelled and the calories burned during movement are recorded and measured by the walker. The system has an accelerometer to detect possible falls, correct itineraries and turning angles and control braking.

i-Walker was developed as part of the European project Supported Human Autonomy for Recovery and Enhancement of Cognitive and Motor Abilities Using Information Technologies (SHARE-it), under the Sixth Framework Programme.

Along with the intelligent walker, the SHARE-it project is also developing  a semiautonomous wheelchair capable of operating both indoors and outdoors and a semi-automatic platform based on a new type of spherical wheel designed for movement in small spaces.