Design of a robotic cane to assist people with disabilities

Abstract

In the present days a percentage increase of the population with disability issues is observed. Not only are motor disabilities, sensory and cognitive too. One reason is the growth of the elderly population. There are mechanical devices for their assistance, the most used is the cane. This paper intends to apply technologies in the area of robotics to develop a robotic cane considering the hypothesis that it is more efficient to facilitate and induce a normal gait, and simultaneously address sensory and cognitive disabilities.