Natural Sit-to-Stand Assist Device by Non-Linear Rolling Cane

Abstract

Standing up from a chair (STS) is an indispensable activity for daily life. However, it is not an easy activity for the persons who are physically weak due to such as old age. Many power assisting devices for STS are proposed. However, for home and portable use, the assistive device should be light weight without external power. This research proposes a cane-like device which supports pelvis lifting by the user’s own power. Unlike a cane, the bottom of the device is formed as a nonlinear curve, which keeps the pelvis assisting trajectory similar to the one performed by a PT during STS assistance. This report describes the design of the bottom curve and linkage for the proposed cane-like device.