(via USPTO)
Toyota, along with the Illinois Institute of Technology, are innovating on an age-old device, the walking cane. This new version resembles the function of a Segway. With a six-axis accelerometer, it can sense if the user is falling forward or backward and exert power in the appropriate direction to help regain balance. This reaction is also controlled by the grip of the user. A stronger grip results in a stronger push from the wheel of the walking cane. Apart from preventing a fall, Toyota also suggests this robotic walking cane can be used as a tool to "exercise or rehabilitate back muscles that are not usually used by people with back injuries." Toyota even plans on incorporating fingerprint recognition to prevent theft and make this smart cane, that much smarter and impressive. This certainly seems appropriate for the younger elders in the digital age.
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