The American National Council on Aging reported,
“One-fourth of Americans aged 65+ falls each year. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.”
Main researchers involved in this project
Therefore, to prevent further casualties the researchers Scuola Sant’Anna in Italy and EPFL in Switzerland have designed a unique exoskeleton that prevents the elderly from losing balance and falling over.
Right now, this unique exoskeleton is still a prototype. Lightweight and allowing users to customize it depending on their body weight.
It has the ability to detect variation in movement in a wearer’s actual motion.
As a result, the attached motors will suddenly spring back to life to exert pressure on thighs for stabilizing the wearer’s vertebrae if it senses anything unusual in motion. As a result, users can quickly regain body balance even after a slip.
It can remember one’s regular movement
The involved researchers claim it to be, “light-weight and extremely easy to personalize.” It does not take long to perfectly fit a user and become familiar with his usual walking pattern.
As the exoskeleton has already proven itself to be a wonderful device for body balance. Now the researchers are trying to ensure further portability and better sustainability to it. Someday I believe, the old generation will help us crossing busy streets like old times.
Photo Courtesy: PopularMechanics
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