College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Biomedical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Biomedical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Biomedical Engineering
Date
3-2021
Primary Advisor
Christopher Heylman, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department
Additional Advisors
Britta Berg-Johansen, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
This project’s sponsor, Charlie Guitierrez, has decades of experience building assistive walking devices for the wheelchair bound population. During his work, he noticed that many of his clients retained some ability to balance themselves and so theorized that they would be able to walk independently if given some form of assistance. This assistance could potentially be in the form of a wearable gyroscope. Gyroscopes are commonly used to stabilize objects subjected to instability, such as bicycles, motorcycles, and ships. Thus, a wearable gyroscope would assist its user in maintaining overall stability by imparting reactive torques and forces if the user were to become imbalanced.
This project was envisioned to serve as a proof-of-concept for gyroscopic stabilization of human gait and stance. After internal discussions with the team and the project sponsor, it was decided that the scope of the project was to attempt a full-size implementation of a gyroscopic balance device. And so, the goal of this project was to develop a proof-of-concept for a wearable device that would allow certain members of the wheelchair-bound population to attain independent mobility through therapeutic training of their innate balance. Mr. Guitierrez could apply this device to his clients and liberate them from the necessity of a wheelchair.
The following sections shall detail the overall project and the plans that the team will follow to produce the device. Generally, these sections will discuss background research related to the device, project scope, engineering specifications, deliverables, and project management.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/bmedsp/138
Included in
Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation Commons, Other Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons