Ostrich Locomotion-Inspired Walking Cane for Senior Adventurers

Abstract

This research paper proposed an ostrich locomotion-inspired walking cane as an aid for elderly individuals traversing natural landscapes. A unique leg property and structure that provides remarkable balance and stability to ostrich locomotion on uneven terrain was utilized. A set of experiments was conducted to compare the balance provided by the ostrich-inspired and conventional small quad cane. Healthy male and female participants [age 49 male and age 20, 20, 25 females] were recruited and instructed on the testing procedures. Wireless inertia sensors were affixed to various points on the participant’s body and on the cane itself. Participants practiced standing and walking with both types of canes before engaging in balance-challenging activities that imitated age-related motion instability. Tested activities included standing while rolling a ball forward and backward, standing while rolling a ball clockwise, and walking while swinging over a cup. Each type of activities was performed on three different types of terrain including the firm, grassy, and gravelly surfaces. Floquet multipliers were calculated and used as stability indices of the performed activities. Comparisons of these indices revealed that the ostrich locomotion-inspired cane outperformed the conventional cane in providing stability during both gait and standing on grassy and gravelly terrain. While further experimentation with a larger and more diverse population is necessary, this bio-inspired balance maintenance has the potential to revolutionize walking cane design and encourage senior adventurer to engage in landscape travel for their well-being.