Body-Support Control Using Real-Time Physiological Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current body-support devices, such as electrically-assisted bicycles and exoskeletons, do not dynamically adjust support levels based on real-time changes in a user's physiological state, leading to insufficient or excessive support, which can cause injury or diminish health benefits.
Innovation Solution
A system that continuously monitors and analyzes physiological and performance data to adjust support levels in real-time, using a closed-loop architecture with a health adviser agent and activity agent to tailor support to the user's current state and objectives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If body-support devices use static configuration based on generic profiles, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to real-time physiological changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation by continuously monitoring physiological parameters (heart rate, fatigue level, muscle engagement) and adjusting support levels in real-time. The system transitions from static generic profiles to dynamic user-specific configurations that adapt to changing physiological states during activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where physiological data collected from wearables and sensors is processed to adjust device parameters. The control system receives real-time feedback on user status and modifies support levels accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that improves adaptability.
2Reliability
If support levels are increased to prevent under-exertion, then health benefits are improved, but risk of over-exertion and injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time physiological monitoring to provide feedback on user exertion levels. When signs of over-exertion are detected (elevated heart rate, increased fatigue), the system automatically reduces support levels to prevent injury, while ensuring minimum support to maintain health benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes support parameters based on monitored physiological states. Support levels are adjusted continuously to match user capacity, transitioning between high support (for recovery) and low support (for challenge) based on real-time conditions, optimizing both safety and health outcomes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If real-time physiological monitoring is implemented, then adaptability to user state is improved, but device complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary processing layer that receives raw physiological data from multiple sensors and wearables, processes it into meaningful insights, and translates into appropriate support adjustments. This intermediary layer manages the complexity of data fusion and decision-making centrally.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed as a multi-functional platform that handles data collection, processing, analysis, and device control through a single integrated architecture. This universal system manages multiple physiological parameters and adapts to various activity types without requiring separate specialized systems for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, including: at least one processor configured to: receive real-time data indicative of a physiological state of a user during operation of a body-support device; determine, based at least in part on the real-time data and a training plan generated from a user body model representing a current physiological state of the user, a target level of physical support for the user; generate a control signal corresponding to the target level of physical support; and dynamically adjust the control signal in response to detected changes in the user's physiological state, as indicated by the real-time data, during operation of the body-support device; and an interface configured to transmit the control signal to the body-support device to dynamically provide the target level of physical support to the user.