INSTRUMENTED MOBILITY ASSISTANCE DEVICE

摘要

Various implementations are disclosed for an instrumented mobility assistance device, such as an instrumented walker. The device includes an attached sensor that is operable to convert an operational action of a user of the mobility assistance device into a sensor signal. A use analyzer is operable to relate the sensor signal to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user of the mobility assistance device with an underlying surface. The use analyzer is further operable to determine a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute. The sensor may include a force or moment sensor. The contact attribute may include a foot-initial contact, or a foot-off contact. In this way, gait characteristics of the user may be determined during normal operation of the instrumented device. Also, the sensor may be used to determine a stability measure associated with the device.