Wearable Imbalance Warning Device Personalized Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional assistive devices for balance and rehabilitation are not tailored to individual users' balance control abilities, making them unsuitable for elderly individuals or others with unique physical and psychological factors, leading to ineffective balance recovery.
Innovation Solution
A wearable electronic device equipped with an inertial measurement unit (IMU), processing unit, and output unit that calibrates an angle threshold based on the user's specific balance characteristics during walking, then monitors and alerts the user to imbalance through visual or audio signals when their sway angle exceeds the threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional assistive devices use fixed balance thresholds based on normal gait patterns, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to individual users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by collecting acceleration data during a calibration period where the user walks normally, then calculates personalized angle thresholds before actual balance monitoring begins. This preliminary action enables individualized thresholds without adding complexity to the ongoing monitoring operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device automatically calibrates to each user's specific gait pattern and balance characteristics without requiring manual configuration or professional setup. The system self-adjusts the angle thresholds based on the user's own calibration data, making the device adaptable to individual users while keeping the interface simple.
2Reliability
If conventional devices provide continuous balance monitoring, then user safety is improved, but false warnings increase due to lack of personalization
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the threshold parameter from fixed universal values to dynamic personalized values derived from each user's calibration data. By calculating angle thresholds based on individual gait patterns and balance characteristics, the system maintains reliable safety monitoring while eliminating false warnings that occur with one-size-fits-all thresholds.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device implements personalized calibration for each user, then adaptability improves, but loss of time during initial setup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration process requires the user to perform only a limited number of walking steps (e.g., 10-20 steps) rather than extensive training protocols. This partial action approach captures sufficient gait pattern information to establish personalized thresholds without requiring excessive time investment from the user.
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 device provides personalized imbalance warnings, enhancing user safety by ensuring alerts are relevant and reducing unnecessary warnings, thus improving the suitability of assistive devices for users with varying balance control abilities.
Implementation Method 1
an inertial measurement unit (IMU)... by the IMU, obtaining acceleration data related to the wearable electronic device... by the IMU, obtaining angular velocity data of the wearable electronic device
Data Source
AI summary
A method for imbalance warning to be implemented by a wearable electronic device positioned on a body part of a user includes steps of: obtaining acceleration data during a calibration period; obtaining an angle threshold based on the acceleration data thus obtained; obtaining angular velocity data during a unit of time; calculating a sway angle based on the angular velocity data; determining whether the sway angle thus calculated exceeds the angle threshold; and when it is determined that the sway angle exceeds the angle threshold, outputting a signal that indicates imbalance of the user.