Balance Training Apparatus Center of Gravity Orientation Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing balance training apparatuses for individuals with disabilities struggle to accurately determine the orientation of the trainee's body during rehabilitation, leading to inappropriate training unless the apparatus can verify the correct orientation, especially when switching between front-back and right-left training modes.

Innovation Solution

A balance training apparatus equipped with a moving cart, load detection units, a calculation unit to determine the center of gravity, and an instruction controller that sets a reference center of gravity and provides orientation instructions to ensure the trainee maintains the correct posture before starting training, preventing inappropriate training by determining the orientation based on the center of gravity's change direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the footplate is moved by a small amount to maintain trainee stability, then safety is improved, but trainee motivation deteriorates due to lack of environmental change

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrainee safetyVSAvoidtrainee motivation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The moving cart is designed to dynamically adjust its movement characteristics based on training phase and trainee performance. During initial training, the cart moves by a small amount to ensure safety. As training progresses and trainee motivation needs enhancement, the cart can be configured to move by a large amount, transforming the static safety configuration into a dynamic system that adapts to different training requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the balance training apparatus does not verify trainee orientation, then device complexity is reduced, but training appropriateness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus simplicityVSAvoidtraining appropriateness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical orientation detection mechanisms with a computational approach. The calculation unit computes trainee orientation by analyzing the relationship between the detected center of gravity position and the moving direction of the cart, using mathematical algorithms rather than mechanical sensors to determine whether the trainee is in the correct orientation for the current training mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The center of gravity detection serves as an intermediary that indirectly provides orientation information. Rather than directly measuring orientation with complex sensors, the system uses the easily detectable center of gravity position as a mediator to infer trainee orientation relative to the moving cart direction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus effectively prevents inappropriate training by accurately determining the trainee's orientation before starting, ensuring appropriate balance training by adjusting the moving cart's direction based on the calculated center of gravity, thus enhancing training efficacy and maintaining trainee motivation.

Implementation Method 1

a detection unit configured to detect a load received from a foot of a trainee who is standing on the moving cart

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLoad detection:

Implementation Method 2

a calculation unit configured to calculate the center of gravity of loads of both feet of the trainee on a riding surface from the load detected by the detection unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCenter of gravity calculation:

Data Source

PatentUS11304627B2Balance training apparatus and control program of balance training apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

The balance training apparatus includes: a moving cart capable of moving on a moving surface by driving a driving unit; a detection unit configured to detect a load received from a foot of a trainee who is standing on the moving cart; a calculation unit configured to calculate the center of gravity of loads of both feet of the trainee on a riding surface from, the load detected by the detection unit; a setting unit configured to set the center of gravity of the loads at which it is estimated that the trainee has maintained an upright state on the riding surface as a reference center of gravity; and an instruction controller configured to output an instruction of the orientation of the body to the trainee and an instruction to move the center of gravity to the trainee.