Intelliwalker, an intelligent, sensor equipped, motorized robotic walking assistance device.
First Claim
1. An intelligent self-propelled, walking-assistant device (e.g., walker, wheelchair) that can be operated by a pedestrian user for guiding said user through an environment with uneven terrain (e.g., inclines, declines, stairways) comprising:
- a) two removable motorized treads, a.k.a., tracks (or wheels) which can be affixed to the front and rear wheel assemblies on each side of the device;
b) user can operate said motorized treads (or wheels) in variable speeds and in forward and reverse directions in order to turn the walker;
c) multiple sensing systems (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, Global Positioning System, laser, pressure, radar, sonar, thermometer, ultrasonic) to monitor the position, speed, direction (e.g., differential speed of treads or wheels), and balance (e.g., yaw, pitch, roll) of the device, the device in relation to its user and/or load, and surrounding environment to assist the user and/or load to move across flat, uneven, or inclined surfaces and automatically adjust speed and itself to ensure an upright position;
d) a communication and processing system that can transmit and regulate the device'"'"'s actions based on the feedback from onboard sensors and sensors worn by the user as well as transmit operating data;
e) a u-shaped frame that wraps around its user and supported by four cross-braced vertical posts ending in said motorized treads (or wheels) connected in the front and having handles on an upper portion of the frame suitable to be gripped by a user;
f) said u-shaped frame with a moveable seat that can fold-down and is suitable to support a 225 pound adult;
g) said cross-braced vertical posts ending in said motorized treads (or wheels) can be lengthened or shortened by various means (e.g., hydraulic fluids, screw drives, gears, magnets, actuators) to adjust the walker when traversing inclines, declines, stairs or uneven terrain to ensure user stability; and
h) visual displays (e.g., lights, LCD screens, LED screens), audio speakers (e.g., sounds, voice), and tactile displays (e.g., vibration, heat, cold) that can indicate conditions about the local environment, user conditions, information transmitted through wireless communication, and said device'"'"'s operating conditions.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent, self-propelled assistive walking and cargo-carrying device that utilizes various sensors to monitor the intended movement and balance of its pedestrian user and the device in relation to the surrounding terrain to ensure stability, provides the capability to ascend or descend stairs and uneven terrain via removable motorized treads, and can enhance the pedestrian user'"'"'s ability to comprehend and interact with the environment through hearing amplification, range-finding, and interaction with personally-worn smart devices (e.g., smart phones, smart watches, smart bands, etc.). The embodiment can be controlled by the user through pressure-sensitive grips and controls, voice, detected motion of the user, or remotely through wireless connection. The embodiment can be programmed to be user-specific and to follow a pre-determined path or to arrive at a target location.
-
Citations
8 Claims
-
1. An intelligent self-propelled, walking-assistant device (e.g., walker, wheelchair) that can be operated by a pedestrian user for guiding said user through an environment with uneven terrain (e.g., inclines, declines, stairways) comprising:
- a) two removable motorized treads, a.k.a., tracks (or wheels) which can be affixed to the front and rear wheel assemblies on each side of the device;
b) user can operate said motorized treads (or wheels) in variable speeds and in forward and reverse directions in order to turn the walker;
c) multiple sensing systems (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, Global Positioning System, laser, pressure, radar, sonar, thermometer, ultrasonic) to monitor the position, speed, direction (e.g., differential speed of treads or wheels), and balance (e.g., yaw, pitch, roll) of the device, the device in relation to its user and/or load, and surrounding environment to assist the user and/or load to move across flat, uneven, or inclined surfaces and automatically adjust speed and itself to ensure an upright position;
d) a communication and processing system that can transmit and regulate the device'"'"'s actions based on the feedback from onboard sensors and sensors worn by the user as well as transmit operating data;
e) a u-shaped frame that wraps around its user and supported by four cross-braced vertical posts ending in said motorized treads (or wheels) connected in the front and having handles on an upper portion of the frame suitable to be gripped by a user;
f) said u-shaped frame with a moveable seat that can fold-down and is suitable to support a 225 pound adult;
g) said cross-braced vertical posts ending in said motorized treads (or wheels) can be lengthened or shortened by various means (e.g., hydraulic fluids, screw drives, gears, magnets, actuators) to adjust the walker when traversing inclines, declines, stairs or uneven terrain to ensure user stability; and
h) visual displays (e.g., lights, LCD screens, LED screens), audio speakers (e.g., sounds, voice), and tactile displays (e.g., vibration, heat, cold) that can indicate conditions about the local environment, user conditions, information transmitted through wireless communication, and said device'"'"'s operating conditions.
- a) two removable motorized treads, a.k.a., tracks (or wheels) which can be affixed to the front and rear wheel assemblies on each side of the device;
-
1-1. assist said user to safely walk, run, or traverse on flat, uneven, or inclined surfaces or climb up and down stairs by . . .
1.1. enabling said user to adjust the four vertical posts ending in two removable motorized treads (or four motorized wheels) to an appropriate, pre-defined positional parameters or to user-defined lengths and to reset said vertical posts to a level position; -
1.2. enabling said user to adjust the speed and direction (e.g., forward, reverse) of said motorized treads (or said motorized wheels) to allow said device to turn clockwise or counter-clockwise and to reset said treads (or said wheels) to the same speed and to reset said treads (or said wheels) to the same direction to move forward or reverse; 1.3. automatically detecting the position of the device and direction of movement in relation to the incline of the terrain to dynamically ensure that it is operating in an appropriate, pre-defined and adjustable positional parameters; 1.4. automatically detecting and adjusting the device'"'"'s speed and direction of movement if it is outside pre-defined and adjustable parameters to ensure it is travelling at an appropriate speed; 1.5. automatically detecting if a person or load being carried is falling and adjust its speed and/or direction of movement and/or shut itself off to revert to a more stable position; 1.6. propelling itself, as directed by a user, on flat, uneven, or inclined surfaces or stairs; 1.7. maintaining its position to optimize the stability of a user standing, walking or running; 1.8. indicating local environmental conditions (e.g., slope, potential obstacles, temperature, humidity, ground friction), conditions about user (e.g., stability, pace, on-person smart devices), conditions transmitted through wireless communication, and said device'"'"'s operating conditions (e.g., speed, direction, level of tilt) via visual displays (e.g., lights, LCD screens, LED screens), audio speakers (e.g., sounds, voice), and tactile displays (e.g., vibration, heat, cold).
-
-
2. Said intelligent self-propelled, walking-assistant device (e.g., walker, wheelchair) can be operated by remote control to guide said pedestrian user or cargo through an environment with uneven terrain (e.g., inclines, declines, stairways) comprising:
- a) two removable motorized treads, a.k.a., tracks (or wheels) which can be affixed to the front and rear wheel assemblies on each side of the device;
b) user can operate said motorized treads (or wheels) in variable speeds and in forward and reverse directions in order to turn the walker;
c) multiple sensing systems (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, Global Positioning System, laser, pressure, radar, sonar, thermometer, ultrasonic, tactile pressure) to monitor the position, speed, direction (e.g., differential speed of treads or wheels), and balance (e.g., yaw, pitch, roll) of the device, the device in relation to its user and/or load, and surrounding environment to assist the user and/or load to move across flat, uneven, or inclined surfaces and automatically adjust speed and itself to ensure an upright position;
d) a communication and processing system that can transmit and regulate the device'"'"'s actions based on the feedback from onboard sensors and sensors worn by the user as well as transmit operating data;
e) a u-shaped frame that wraps around its user and supported by four cross-braced vertical posts ending in said motorized treads (or wheels) connected in the front and having handles on an upper portion of the frame suitable to be gripped by a user;
f) said u-shaped frame with a moveable seat that can fold-down and is suitable to support a 225 pound adult;
g) said cross-braced vertical posts ending in said motorized treads (or wheels) can be lengthened or shortened by various means (e.g., hydraulic fluids, screwdrivers, gears, magnets, actuators) to adjust the walker when traversing inclines, declines, stairs or uneven terrain to ensure user stability; and
h) visual displays (e.g., lights, LCD screens, LED screens), audio speakers (e.g., sounds, voice), and tactile displays (e.g., vibration, heat, cold) that can indicate conditions about the local environment, user conditions, information transmitted through wireless communication, and said device'"'"'s operating conditions.Specific claims;
The Intelliwalker can;
- a) two removable motorized treads, a.k.a., tracks (or wheels) which can be affixed to the front and rear wheel assemblies on each side of the device;
-
2-2. assist said user to carry or convey another person or a load on flat, uneven, or inclined surfaces or up and down stairs by
2.1. enabling said user to adjust the four vertical posts ending in two removable motorized treads (or four motorized wheels) to an appropriate, pre-defined positional parameters or to user-defined lengths and to reset said vertical posts to a level position; -
2.2. enabling said user to adjust the speed and direction (e.g., forward, reverse) of said motorized treads (or said motorized wheels) to allow said device to turn clockwise or counter-clockwise and to reset said treads (or said wheels) to the same speed and to reset said treads (or said wheels) to the same direction to move forward or reverse; 2.3. automatically detecting the position of the device and direction of movement in relation to the incline of the terrain to dynamically ensure that it is operating in an appropriate, pre-defined and adjustable positional parameters; 2.4. automatically detecting and adjusting the device'"'"'s speed and direction of movement if it is outside pre-defined and adjustable parameters to ensure it is travelling at an appropriate speed; 2.5. automatically detecting if a person or load being carried is falling and adjust its speed and/or direction of movement and/or shut itself off to revert to a more stable position; 2.6. propelling itself, as directed by a user, on flat, uneven, or inclined surfaces or stairs; 2.7. automatically maintaining its position to optimize the stability of a load in an immobile position or in movement; 2.8. indicating local environmental conditions (e.g., slope, potential obstacles, temperature, humidity, ground friction), conditions about user (e.g., stability, pace, on-person smart devices), conditions transmitted through wireless communication, and said device'"'"'s operating conditions (e.g., speed, direction, level of tilt) via visual displays (e.g., lights, LCD screens, LED screens), audio speakers (e.g., sounds, voice), and tactile displays (e.g., vibration, heat, cold).
-
-
3. detect ambient sounds to assist said direct user or said remote user in hearing the immediate surroundings and transmit such information via sound, vibration, lights, or heat displays;
-
4. detect environmental conditions via sensors (e.g., accelerometer, Global Positioning System, gyroscope, laser, pressure, radar, sonar, ultrasonic) and wireless transmissions to assist said user or said remote user to navigate the immediate surroundings and transmit such information via sound, vibration, lights, or heat displays;
-
5. interact with current and future smart devices (e.g., smart wrist bands, smart watches, shoes, smart phones, clothing smart devices, etc.) to transmit, monitor, display and store speed, direction, pressure, balance (e.g. yaw, pitch, roll), distance, duration, and other parameters (e.g. calories burned) as well as use such data to self-calibrate to optimize said Intelliwalker for optimal performance (e.g., balance, speed) and a specific user(s), mission, or environmental condition to and regulate its actions based on the feedback from its onboard sensors and sensors worn by users;
-
6. be operated directly by a user or by remote control through wireless transmission (e.g., smart phone connected via Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, or other local wireless protocol;
wireless radio transmission);7. be programmed and/or learn the habits, trends, or specific instructions of a given user, routed to a target location, follow a pre-determined path or mission, and/or accommodate a specific or dynamic environmental condition through wireless transmission or direct connection;
-
-
8. update and enhance its computer and software operating system for new purposes via wireless transmission (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, cellular radio) or direct connection (e.g., Universal Serial Bus, Secure Digital);
Specification