Wearable Torque Assistance With IMU-Based Posture Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing walking assistance devices fail to effectively assist individuals with mobility issues by providing personalized and adaptive support for improving walking habits and exercise efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device equipped with a communication module, driving module, IMU sensors, and processors to provide torque assistance, monitor user motion, and correct posture through real-time feedback and exercise programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a walking assistance device provides personalized torque assistance based on real-time motion monitoring, then exercise effectiveness and walking ability are improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the body into multiple segments (head, torso, limbs) and monitors each segment's motion independently using distributed IMU sensors. This segmentation allows the system to track complex movements like head nods, shoulder shrugs, and limb motions separately, enabling personalized torque assistance for each body segment while managing computational complexity through modular processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device integrates multiple functions into a single system: motion monitoring using IMU sensors, posture analysis, torque generation through actuators, and communication with external devices. This multi-functionality allows one device to simultaneously track various body movements, provide personalized feedback, and deliver assistance torque, thereby improving exercise effectiveness without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the device uses multiple IMU sensors to track motion of different body parts, then posture detection accuracy is improved, but the number of components and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the body into multiple parts (head, torso, limbs) and places IMU sensors at specific locations to monitor each segment's motion independently. This segmentation approach improves posture detection accuracy by capturing detailed movement information from multiple body parts simultaneously, while the modular sensor placement strategy helps manage component complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses IMU sensors to continuously monitor motion and provides real-time feedback about posture deviations. The sensors detect angular velocity and acceleration, the system processes this data to determine posture status, and delivers feedback through displays or haptic feedback. This feedback loop improves measurement precision by continuously adapting to user movements while managing complexity through algorithmic processing.
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 walking ability and exercise effectiveness by providing personalized torque assistance and correcting posture, thereby improving mobility and exercise outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a driving module configured to generate a torque and provide the user with the generated torque
Implementation Method 2
at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor configured to obtain motion information including at least one of acceleration information or rotation angle information of the user
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
This wearable device may comprise: a communication module for communicating with an electronic device worn on the body of a user; a driving module for generating torque and providing the generated torque to the user; at least one IMU sensor for acquiring movement information, which includes acceleration information and/or rotation angle information about the user; and a processor (processors). The processor(s) can: control the driving module so as to provide the torque to the user; receive, from the electronic device, through the communication module, sensing data acquired by the electronic device; determine the coordinate values of a first point corresponding to a first part of the body by using the received sensing data; receive the acquired movement information from the IMU; determine, on the basis of the received movement information, the coordinate values of each of second and third points corresponding to each of second and third parts of the body; and determine the pose of the user on the basis of the coordinate values of each of the first, second and third points.