WeMo: A Prototype of a Wearable Mobility Device Adapting to User's Natural Posture Changes

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Human-Computer Interaction
• Personal Mobility Device Design
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Traditional personal mobility devices often hinder stair navigation.
• Existing stair-climbing solutions are typically bulky and heavy.
• There is a need for flexible personal mobility that complements natural human movement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel compact personal mobility device, WeMo, designed for enhanced flexibility.
• To integrate agile wheeled mobility with unimpeded natural stair climbing.
• To present a "wearing mobility" concept extending human mobility.

Main Methods:

• Detailed design and explanation of the WeMo hardware.
• Development of a control strategy for dual-mode operation (walking and driving).
• Conducting fundamental user tests to evaluate device performance.

Main Results:

• The developed WeMo hardware successfully enables both "walking mode" and "driving mode".
• Users can utilize motorized wheels for movement in driving mode.
• Users can walk naturally without device interference in walking mode.

Conclusions:

• WeMo offers a flexible personal mobility solution by combining wheeled locomotion with natural walking.
• The device extends human mobility for daily life applications.
• Further research and development are planned based on initial user test findings.