A new integrated device to read user intentions when walking with a Smart Walker

Walkers are commonly seen in hospitals and clinics, but only individuals with fairly good motor function can use them. Hence, walkers should be more adaptive to the various needs of the users. This study includes the conceptual design, implementation and validation of a Smart Walker with a new interface approach integrated. The implementation of the interface is based on two potentiometers and it intends to read the user´s movement intentions to command the walker. In addition, this new interface can be adapted to different types of patients through the adjustment of its dynamical characteristics. Based on this real-time identification of user´s commands, an approach to the control architecture was developed and it is based on a fuzzy logic algorithm that allows to control the walker´s motors and permitsthe user to manipulate the Smart Walker at his own pace. Results with healthy users show the reliability of the proposed device and control architecture to read the user intentions and control the walker accordingly.