Guo Xinge, He Tianyiyi, Zhang Zixuan, Luo Anxin, Wang Fei, Ng Eldwin J, Zhu Yao, Liu Huicong, Lee Chengkuo
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
National University of Singapore Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI), Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China.
ACS Nano. 2021 Dec 28;15(12):19054-19069. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04464. Epub 2021 Jul 26.
The increasing population of the elderly and motion-impaired people brings a huge challenge to our social system. However, the walking stick as their essential tool has rarely been investigated into its potential capabilities beyond basic physical support, such as activity monitoring, tracing, and accident alert. Here, we report a walking stick powered by ultra-low-frequency human motion and equipped with deep-learning-enabled advanced sensing features to provide a healthcare-monitoring platform for motion-impaired users. A linear-to-rotary structure is designed to achieve highly efficient energy harvesting from the linear motion of a walking stick with ultralow frequency. Besides, two kinds of self-powered triboelectric sensors are proposed and integrated to extract the motion features of the walking stick. Augmented sensing functionalities with high accuracies have been enabled by deep-learning-based data analysis, including identity recognition, disability evaluation, and motion status distinguishing. Furthermore, a self-sustainable Internet of Things (IoT) system with global positioning system tracing and environmental temperature and humidity amenity sensing functions is obtained. Combined with the aforementioned functionalities, this walking stick is demonstrated in various usage scenarios as a caregiver for real-time well-being status and activity monitoring. The caregiving walking stick shows the potential of being an intelligent aid for motion-impaired users to help them live life with adequate autonomy and safety.
老年人和行动不便者数量的不断增加给我们的社会系统带来了巨大挑战。然而,作为他们必不可少的工具,拐杖除了基本的身体支撑功能外,其潜在能力很少被研究,比如活动监测、追踪以及事故警报等。在此,我们报告一种由超低频人体运动驱动、配备具有深度学习功能的先进传感特性的拐杖,以为行动不便的用户提供一个医疗监测平台。设计了一种线性到旋转的结构以从具有超低频的拐杖的线性运动中实现高效的能量收集。此外,提出并集成了两种自供电摩擦电传感器以提取拐杖的运动特征。基于深度学习的数据分析实现了具有高精度的增强传感功能,包括身份识别、残疾评估和运动状态区分。此外,还获得了一个具有全球定位系统追踪以及环境温度和湿度舒适感传感功能的自维持物联网(IoT)系统。结合上述功能,这种拐杖在各种使用场景中被展示为一种用于实时健康状况和活动监测的护理工具。这种护理拐杖显示出有潜力成为行动不便用户的智能辅助工具,帮助他们以适当的自主性和安全性生活。