Shoe Balancing Device with Deployable Stabilization Rod
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Solution Overview
Problem
Falls among the elderly and others due to imbalance are common and can result in serious injuries, with existing solutions failing to effectively prevent falls, especially to the side or rear, and often causing fear that exacerbates the risk.
Innovation Solution
A shoe balancing device with a housing, power source, accelerometer or gyroscope sensor, motor, and stabilization rod that deploys to prevent falls by applying resistance when an imbalance is detected, optionally including GPS for location tracking and alarm mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stabilization rod is deployed to prevent falls, then fall prevention effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components: a housing containing electronics, a separate stabilization rod, and attachment mechanisms. This segmentation allows the stabilization rod to be deployed independently when needed, improving fall prevention effectiveness without requiring the entire device to be complex at all times.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilization rod transitions from a retracted state (not interfering with movement) to an extended state (providing support). This dynamic deployment mechanism allows the device to maintain simplicity during normal use while providing complex functionality when fall prevention is required.
2Reliability
If sensors and motors are added to detect and correct imbalance, then fall prevention capability is improved, but weight of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses electronic sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) and motorized actuation to replace or augment mechanical balance assistance. This substitution provides precise imbalance detection and controlled rod deployment, improving fall prevention capability while keeping the added weight manageable compared to purely mechanical support systems.
3Reliability
If a stabilization rod is used to prevent falls, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to potential interference with normal walking
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization rod dynamically extends only when imbalance is detected beyond a threshold, remaining retracted during normal walking. This dynamic behavior ensures safety when needed while maintaining ease of operation during typical activities, as the rod does not interfere with normal gait.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors continuously monitor the wearer's balance state and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism ensures the rod is deployed only when actual imbalance occurs, preventing unnecessary interference with normal walking while providing safety when required.
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
Effectively prevents falls by deploying a stabilization rod to counteract imbalance, providing a warning, and signaling for assistance if a fall persists, thereby reducing injury risk and alleviating fear.
Implementation Method 1
an accelerometer and/or gyroscope sensor configured to determine an imbalance state of the device
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe balancing device including a housing, configured to be attached to a shoe of a wearer; a power source to power the device; one or more sensors configured to determine an imbalance state of the device; a hardware board configured to act as the operation control center of the device; a motor configured to be activated by the hardware board if the one or more sensors determine(s) an imbalance state beyond a predetermined threshold; and a stabilization rod connected to the motor so as to be moveable from a default undeployed state to a deployed state, wherein the deployed state being a position in contact with a surface underneath the wearer's location, wherein when a wearer of the shoe begins to fall the device is actuated.