Student-invented device Walkfit aids mobility and orthopaedic diagnosis
Rahi Shah and Hriday Boriawala, two class 12 students and creators of Walkfit, a device to aid people with lower limb orthopaedic disorders explain their invention, inspiration and process of developing the device in an interview with Kavita Jani
1. What is Walkfit and how does it work?
Hriday Boriawala: Walkfit is a real-time monitoring walking stick that helps with the diagnosis of lower limb orthopaedic issues. Walkfit uses advanced pressure and Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) sensors to measure the angle of tilt and generates heat maps to predict falls and identify problem areas. The stick is meant to be used by senior citizens and anyone with lower limb orthopaedic issues.
Rahi Shah: The device consists of labelled sensors that need to be attached to specific areas on a walking stick and a small circuit box that must be attached to the bottom of the walking stick. The sensors need to be attached to the area of the stick that the person uses to grip, which can be adaptable to each unique grip. Once the sensors and wires have been attached correctly they can stay on, and the device is ready to be used.
Q2. What piqued your interest in Robotics?
Boriawala: We’re from Podar International School and in 7th grade our school held a competition called MakeX. Rahi and I participated in it together which eventually enabled our interest in robotics.
Shah: At MakeX, we started with using Legos to learn basic building and block coding. We realised that we actually enjoyed this, however soon after, this programme was discontinued. Therefore, we decided to join external classes to further nurture this interest. We joined On My Own Technology (Omotec) in Juhu, where we continued to learn robotics by pursuing courses in electronics, python coding, and data analysis which helped us while making Walkfit.
3. Where and when did you present the device for the first time? And what was the research process like?
Shah: After joining Omotec in 2021, we spent the first year learning the basics of robotics and building our knowledge and skills. By 2022 July/August we started the process of ideating and developing Walkfit for the IRIS National Fair competition. Apart from competing, our aim was also to make a device that helped aid a relevant issue.
Boriawala: We presented the first version of Walkfit at the World STEM & Robotics Olympiad (WSRO), where we won the judges’ choice award. While working on the idea for a device, we both wanted to build something that would be useful for our family members.
While ideating a device, we both wanted to make something that could aid our grandparents who face trouble walking due to underlying issues and knee operations.
Both Rahi’s grandmother and mine have knee-related problems, so the idea stemmed from creating a device that could aid their issue or its diagnosis. Therefore, under the mentorship of Reetu Ma’am (Reetu Jain, Founder, OMOTEC) we came up with the idea for Walkfit. For the research and verification of our device, we consulted a physiotherapist, Dr Meghavi Desai who helped us read the heat map and associate those readings with its underlying issues. The stick that we’re presenting here today is actually one of my grandmom’s.
4. How can the data gathered by this device aid doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of lower limb orthopaedic disorders?
Boriawala: Currently, treadmills are used to analyse patients’ movement. However, this is just a one-time analysis performed via tests. Walkfit collects data over a much longer period as the patients can use the device in their everyday lives, making it more precise and efficient to some extent. Additionally, it is a much cheaper alternative as the device would cost about Rs 3000-4000 for the patients.
Shah: In terms of diagnosis, the combinations of heat maps and the combination of areas of pressure keep changing for each condition. There are a lot of different weight-bearing dynamics that keep changing for each issue depending on the area of the limb affected. The pressure borne by the walking stick will vary depending on issues with the knee, ankle, toes or hip. All these will result in varied heat maps. Dr Desai helped us understand and analyse these. The data obtained can be useful for doctors to diagnose and treat orthopaedic disorders.
5. How did you refine the device at each stage of its production, especially since receiving inputs from a physiotherapist?
Shah: First we only had force-sensing resistors (FSR) on the device. Upon Dr Desai’s inputs, we added a gyroscope sensor as well. Dr Desai explained that in order to accurately determine muscular or skeletal issues, the device needed to register balance along with pressure sensitivity as well. Simultaneously, there was a lot of improvement in the software. Because it took us time to learn how to code real-time heat maps and to make them more accurate. So we kept adding and trying different libraries. Once we had finally collected enough data from our initial trials, we were able to integrate KNN machine-learning models within the device to help us gain more accurate results.
Boriawala: The first heat map that we made was just a bunch of bars that wasn’t easily legible and therefore not very user-friendly. Since we created the map, we were able to decipher it, however, it would be quite complex for a customer to understand. Consequently, we added the red and blue colours to the map for it to be easily legible and user-friendly.
6. At what stage is the device currently? Feedback
Shah: Currently, it’s at the stage of testing. We have already tested it with 50+ senior citizens at old age homes in Palghar and Borivali. Initially, the device could only detect a few illnesses, but through these tests, we were able to reach a range of people to gather varied data which over time enhanced the accuracy of the device and the amount of disorders that it can detect. We also had the heat maps verified by Dr Desai to ensure their accuracy.
7. What is the differentiating factor of Walkfit? and a similar device in the market already?
Shah: Right now you hear a lot about smart walking sticks and smart walking aid devices. Specifically walking sticks that help the blind. There are ultrasonic sensors and buzzers to detect obstacles, and there are a lot of walking sticks that have oxygen sensors and pulse-measuring devices. But nothing that measures your gait. In terms of walking aid devices, which include wheelchairs, canes and walkers, they are usually quite expensive and not as customisable as Walkfit. Walkfit can be used with any walking stick of the patient’s choice and all they have to do is attach the device correctly to the stick.
8. What are the future plans for Walkfit?
Shah: Right now the device is a prototype. We want to integrate a network module and attach velcro to it so that putting the retrofitted model on the walking stick becomes even easier.
Boriawala: We plan to develop an app that can analyse the heat map and convert the analysis into text. The analysis, in addition to the heat map, will provide the patients with additional insights regarding the effectiveness of their treatment.
We presented the device at a research fair earlier this year, so the research paper is to be published soon. We have also presented the device at IIT Tech Fest where we received funding of Rs 10,000. Recently, WalkFit has also secured a patent and we even pitched the device to venture capitalists like gradCapital for funding.
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