Advisor Information
Brian Knarr
Location
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
3-3-2017 2:15 PM
End Date
3-3-2017 3:30 PM
Abstract
Stroke is a major cause of adult disability in the United States, and many affected stroke survivors require the use of an assistive device post-stroke. Even so, the effects of these assistive devices on specific movement outcomes like propulsion in rehabilitation are not well studied. The goal of this study was to develop an instrumented cane capable of recording accurate force data and providing real-time feedback to the user. A standard, single-point cane was instrumented with a force cell that measures force applied to the cane and a motor that vibrates once a threshold value has been applied. The force cell was calibrated with known weight, and the accuracy of the prototype was tested against a force plate by loading the cane in a manner similar to traditional cane use. The average calibrated difference in force readings between cane and force plate data was -1.933 N, only 0.68% of total average forces. These preliminary results found the cane to be accurate and able to provide tactile feedback through vibration. Future studies will investigate assistive devices’ effects on important variables such as propulsion, as well as subjects' responses to vibratory feedback intended to regulate the amount of force applied on the cane.
Design of an Instrumented Cane for Real-Time Force Feedback
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Stroke is a major cause of adult disability in the United States, and many affected stroke survivors require the use of an assistive device post-stroke. Even so, the effects of these assistive devices on specific movement outcomes like propulsion in rehabilitation are not well studied. The goal of this study was to develop an instrumented cane capable of recording accurate force data and providing real-time feedback to the user. A standard, single-point cane was instrumented with a force cell that measures force applied to the cane and a motor that vibrates once a threshold value has been applied. The force cell was calibrated with known weight, and the accuracy of the prototype was tested against a force plate by loading the cane in a manner similar to traditional cane use. The average calibrated difference in force readings between cane and force plate data was -1.933 N, only 0.68% of total average forces. These preliminary results found the cane to be accurate and able to provide tactile feedback through vibration. Future studies will investigate assistive devices’ effects on important variables such as propulsion, as well as subjects' responses to vibratory feedback intended to regulate the amount of force applied on the cane.