mobility

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A-SET Mind Controlled Wheelchair 2

Mobility – (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) – the ability to move physically

  • a handicapped person’s mobility may be limited
  • mobility is part of physical education

impaired physical mobility – an individual has a limitation in independent, purposeful physical movement of the body or of one or more extremities.

The goals of interventions are to avoid the hazards of immobility, prevent dependent disabilities, and assist the patient in restoring, preserving, or maintaining as much mobility and functional independence as possible.

Wheelchair – chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing. Wheelchairs are used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disability.

wearable robotics, exoskeleton, bionics

Some promising new ideas

  • Robotic Mobilization Device (video 9:26) – Lack of independence and the inability to interact at eye-level are just a few of the complaints of wheelchair users, not even mentioning the health problems related to sitting all day. Tek RMD is a promising prototype of a Robotic Mobilization Device that allows paraplegics to stand-up and move around in an upright position – moving towards the future of mobility for people with lower-body disabilities.
  • Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton – with the aid of Computer Aided Design and 3D printing technology, doctors and engineers were able to produce a smaller and lighter plastic WREX (Wilmington Robotic EXoskeleton) to suit personally the exact body size of Emma and children like her, thus allowing for more natural and relatively effortless movements. The wearable set of “magic arms”, as little Emma calls them, is made of lightweight plastic enforced by rubber bands that amplify the wearer’s movements.
  • Ekso Bionics – exoskeleton bionic suit – or wearable robot – enabling paraplegics to get back on their feet and out of their wheelchairs. The combination of motors and sensors, along with patient assist with balance and body positioning, allow the user to walk over ground with an efficient reciprocal gait pattern. It is designed for people with lower extremity weakness or paralysis due to neurological disease or injury – Spinal Cord injuries, Multiple Sclerosis, Guillain Barré syndrome.

What’s the problem?

  • What? – What are some of the limitations to mobility? What have been used in the past to help improve mobility?
  • So what? – What are some new technologies that are being considered? Are there existing technologies that can be adapted to improve personal mobility?
  • Now what? – How are new materials contributing to improved mobility?
  • Then what? – What are some advancements that are waiting on technology improvements to be possible for mass production?

Engineering ideas

  • mobility, prosthetics, wearable robotics, bionic, exoskeleton

Learn more…

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