Active rollator walker

• Main Author: Tan, Zhi Yong
• Other Authors: Heng Kok Hui
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71995
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Ageing population is an issue Singapore has been facing and will continue to be an issue in the next 15 years. Along with the ageing population, there is an increase in the total number of semi-ambulant as one’s muscles degenerate and decrease in function with old age. Falls are usually the cause of injury in the elderly and with a rise in the elderly population, there is an immense need for mobility assistive devices to help them avoid falling. However, these devices only provide mobility in a “barrier free” environment and this matter is perhaps most apparent when considering stair climbing. While Singapore is improving on our architecture and implementing new policies to make areas as accessible as possible to people with mobility aids, there are certain areas whereby only stairs are possible and steps will always be a concern for these people. The focus of this project will be on rollators used by the semi-ambulant and to improve the rollator by including a stair climbing function. An analysis of stairs, stair climbing mechanisms, types of wheels and braking systems is presented. Based on the findings and analysis of these components, an improved design of the rollator will be proposed Finally, the results and discussions will be made, followed by some recommendations for future work.