Intelligent Rollator Braking Torque Control for Fall Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current assistive walkers with four legs, particularly rollators, lack adequate slip resistance and fall protection, making them unsafe for individuals with weak hand strength or varying physical conditions and road surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a slip-resistant and fall-resistant control method for intelligent rollators, which involves motor-driven wheels and a controller that adjusts torque based on rotation speed, acceleration, and user-selected slip-resistant levels, as well as an active fall-resistant braking system to prevent accidents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hand brakes are equipped on rollators, then slip resistance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because strong hand strength is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hand brake system with an electric motor-driven wheel system. The motor provides controlled braking force through electronic control, eliminating the need for manual hand operation. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining slip resistance through automated motor control while removing the hand strength requirement entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollator system performs self-braking through the motor controller that automatically applies braking torque based on detected slip conditions or control commands. The system serves itself by using the motor's electromagnetic properties to generate braking force without requiring external manual intervention, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If footed walker design is used, then slip resistance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because user must lift or move the walker from side to side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive footed walker design with an active motor-driven wheeled system. The motor provides propulsive force to move the rollator forward, eliminating the need for the user to manually lift and reposition the device. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining slip resistance through controlled motor operation while dramatically reducing mobility effort through automated propulsion.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor system performs preliminary action by providing continuous or intermittent propulsive force to maintain forward motion. Instead of requiring the user to periodically lift and reposition the walker, the motor proactively maintains movement, reducing the user's physical effort while preserving stability and slip resistance through controlled wheel rotation.
3Ease of operation
If wheel-footed walker is used, then mobility with less effort is achieved, but slip resistance deteriorates resulting in safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both wheeled and footed designs by equipping all four legs with motor-driven wheels. This combination provides the smooth rolling mobility of wheeled walkers while the motor control system ensures slip resistance through controlled torque application and braking. The unified motor-driven wheel system resolves the contradiction by achieving both ease of operation and slip resistance simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor control system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor wheel rotation, slip conditions, and user input. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts motor torque and braking force to maintain optimal slip resistance. This active feedback control resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable slip protection while maintaining the ease of mobility provided by the wheeled design.
4Ease of operation
If motor-driven wheels are used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-driven wheel system performs multiple functions: propulsion, braking, and slip prevention. A single motor assembly with integrated controller provides all these functions, reducing overall device complexity compared to having separate mechanical systems for each function. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by improving ease of operation through automated assistance while limiting complexity growth through functional integration.
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
Enhances safety and convenience by providing adjustable slip resistance and fall protection, accommodating different user conditions and road surfaces, thereby improving the overall performance and safety of intelligent rollators.
Implementation Method 1
front wheels and/or rear wheels configured at the bottom of the vehicle body and driven by a motor... applying a torque to the motor in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the motor
Implementation Method 2
determining a first braking torque according to the position change of the motor relative to the initial position... determining a second braking torque according to the moving speed and/or acceleration of the intelligent rollator
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a fall-resistant control method for an intelligent rollator, an intelligent rollator and a controller. The intelligent rollator has a vehicle body, front wheels and/or rear wheels configured at the bottom of the vehicle body and driven by a motor. The fall-resistant control method includes: recording the current position of the motor as the initial position when the moving speed of the intelligent rollator exceeds a first threshold and the acceleration of the intelligent rollator exceeds a second threshold; determining a first braking torque according to the position change of the motor relative to the initial position, wherein the greater the position change, the greater the first braking torque; determining a second braking torque according to the moving speed and/or acceleration of the intelligent rollator, wherein the greater the moving speed and/or the acceleration, the greater the second braking torque; determining the fall-resistant braking torque according to the first braking torque and the second braking torque.