Description:PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed. 
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to walkers, and more particularly relate to an emergency response apparatus for a walking aid associated with a subject and method thereof.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, walkers are used to increase a stability and balance of an individual or a person while walking. Majority of people who use walkers are elderly because as a person’s age increases, their muscle mass decreases. The phenomenon is referred to as sarcopenia. As the muscle mass decreases, the muscle strength is lost such that by the age of 60, muscle strength has already decreased by 20% and by age 80 by 40%. The drastic decline in muscle strength affects balance and stability. Conventionally, available walker includes 4-legged standard walker, walker with two wheels, and 4 wheeled rollator. The problem with the conventional walkers is that weight transfer while walking, ambiguous usage instructions/ lack of understanding of use process, light weight helps tipping motion, difficult to use on slopes/uneven ground, and high tipping moment on impact on legs. Further the reason for falling is by a crossing of legs of the user while trying to balance themselves. The weak limbs of the person unable to hold the body straight in case of imbalance leading to fall. Further, walkers count for 87% of the injuries that occur due to falls using a walking assistive device. Fear of fall while using the standard walkers and the cost gap to shift to advanced solutions forces the geriatric population above age 60 to abandon using walkers frequently which pushes them to live a sedentary and inactive lifestyle deteriorating their physical and mental health.
[0003] Conventional system discloses a smart walker system. The system includes a walker attachment and a user proximity sensor. The walker attachment is configured to be attached to the medical assistance walker. The user proximity sensor is in communication with the walker attachment on the medical assistance walker for determining a proximity of the user proximity sensor relative to the walker attachment on the medical assistance walker. The user proximity sensor is configured to be worn by a user. The user proximity sensor is configured to detect when the user moves away from the medical assistance walker a set distance. Wherein, when the user wearing the user proximity sensor moves the set distance away from the walker attachment on the medical assistance walker, the smart walker system is configured to alert the user to use the medical assistance walker. Another conventional system discloses smart walker including a walker body, a first support member, a first sensing device, a second support member and a control device. The walker body includes a fixing member. The first support member and the second support member are connected to both ends of the fixing member, and each of the support members includes a handle, a front leg, and a rear leg. The first sensing device is disposed on a central leg to sense a surrounding environment, thereby obtaining a sensing signal. The control device includes a processor connected to the first sensing device and receives the sensing signal to determine whether an obstacle is present around the smart walker by judging the image. However, the all the prior art walkers mainly detect the obstacles and prevent person from injury and does protect the person from falling.
[0004] Consequently, there is a need in the art for an emergency response apparatus for a walking aid associated with a subject and method thereof, to address at least the aforementioned issues in the prior arts.

SUMMARY
[0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simple manner, which is further described in the detailed description of the disclosure. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the subject matter nor to determine the scope of the disclosure.
[0006] An aspect of the present disclosure provides an emergency response apparatus for a walking aid associated with a subject. The emergency response apparatus includes a plurality of deployable supports slidably coupled, via pivot points, within each of the plurality of actuators. Each of the plurality of actuators are configured to control a strength of a magnetic field within each of the plurality of actuators. Each of the plurality of actuators further configured to control at least one of a dynamic release and a retract of each of the plurality of deployable supports. Further, the emergency response apparatus includes a detection unit coupled to the walking aid. The detection unit includes one or more sensors. The one or more sensors are configured to detect periodically, variation in an angular acceleration and a plurality of axes of the walking aid associated with the subject. The one or more sensors are further configured to transmit periodically, angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid to the detection unit.
[0007] Further, the emergency response apparatus further includes signal processing unit. The signal processing unit includes receiving periodically, the angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid from the detection unit. The signal processing unit further includes determining, at a high sampling rate, if an angular value of the received angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a first pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the first pre-determined threshold value. The signal processing unit further includes aggregating the angular acceleration data, received periodically for a pre-defined time. The signal processing unit further includes determining, at a high sampling rate, if an aggregated value of the aggregated angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a second pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the second pre-determined threshold value. The signal processing unit further includes detecting a fall of the walking aid associated with the subject, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, when the angular value is greater than first pre-determined threshold value and the aggregated value is greater than the second pre-determined threshold value. The signal processing unit further includes triggering each of the plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, based on detecting the fall of the walking aid associated with the subject. The signal processing unit further includes dynamically release each of the plurality of deployable supports, in a pre-defined degree of angle of rotation of each of the plurality of deployable supports, in response to triggering each of the plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid.
[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for managing emergency of a walking aid associated with a subject. The method includes receiving periodically, by a processor, angular acceleration data corresponding to a periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of a walking aid from a detection unit. The method further includes determining, by the processor, at a high sampling rate, if an angular value of the received angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a first pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the first pre-determined threshold value. The method further includes aggregating, by the processor, the angular acceleration data, received periodically for a pre-defined time. The method further includes determining, by the processor, at a high sampling rate, if an aggregated value of the aggregated angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a second pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the second pre-determined threshold value. The method further includes detecting, by the processor, a fall of the walking aid associated with a subject, when the angular value is greater than the first pre-determined threshold value and the aggregated value is greater than the second pre-determined threshold value. The method further includes triggering, by the processor, each of a plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, based on detecting the fall of the walking aid associated with the subject. The method further includes dynamically releasing, by the processor, each of a plurality of deployable supports in a pre-defined degree of angle of rotation of each of the plurality of deployable supports, in response to triggering each of the plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid.
[0009] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the disclosure will follow by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended figures. It is to be appreciated that these figures depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the appended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an emergency response apparatus for a walking aid associated with a subject, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of an actuators of the emergency response apparatus such as those shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a fall detection system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a solenoid trigger mechanism of the actuator, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIGs. 5A-5B illustrate an isometric top and back view of the actuator, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0016] FIGs. 5C-5D illustrate an isometric front and back view of the actuator, in accordance with some embodiments of present disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross sectional view of a plurality of deployable supports, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates one or more graphs showing test results of detecting fall using gyroscopic sensor, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; and
[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart depicting a method for managing emergency of a walking aid associated with a subject, in accordance with some embodiments of present disclosure.
[0020] Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and the figures may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the figures with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the figures and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as would normally occur to those skilled in the art are to be construed as being within the scope of the present disclosure. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the disclosure and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.
[0022] In the present document, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration”. Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
[0023] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0024] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including” or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device or method that includes a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.
[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are only illustrative and not intended to be limiting.
[0026] In the following specification and the claims, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0027] A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the invention. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0028] In the present disclosure, terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “rear”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “side”, “bottom”, and the like, may refer to an orientation or a positional relationship based on that shown in the drawings, and are merely relational terms, which are used for convenience in describing structural relationships of various components or elements of the present invention, and do not denote any one of the components or elements of the present disclosure, and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.
[0029] In the present disclosure, terms such as “fixedly attached”, “movably coupled”, “connected”, “coupled”, and the like are to be construed broadly and refer to either a fixed connection, or a movable, or an integral or removable connection; can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. The specific meaning of the terms in the present disclosure can be determined according to circumstances by a person skilled in the relevant art or the art and is not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure.
[0030] Embodiments of the present disclosure provides an emergency response apparatus for a walking aid associated with a subject. The emergency response apparatus includes a plurality of deployable supports slidably coupled, via pivot points, within each of the plurality of actuators. Each of the plurality of actuators are configured to control a strength of a magnetic field within each of the plurality of actuators. Each of the plurality of actuators further configured to control at least one of a dynamic release and a retract of each of the plurality of deployable supports.
[0031] Further, the emergency response apparatus includes a detection unit coupled to the walking aid. The detection unit includes one or more sensors. The one or more sensors are configured to detect periodically, variation in an angular acceleration and a plurality of axes of the walking aid associated with the subject. The one or more sensors are further configured to transmit periodically, angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid to the detection unit.
[0032] The emergency response apparatus further includes signal processing unit. The signal processing unit includes receiving periodically, the angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid from the detection unit. The signal processing unit further includes determining, at a high sampling rate, if an angular value of the received angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a first pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the first pre-determined threshold value. The signal processing unit further includes aggregating the angular acceleration data, received periodically for a pre-defined time. The signal processing unit further includes determining, at a high sampling rate, if an aggregated value of the aggregated angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a second pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the second pre-determined threshold value. The signal processing unit further includes detecting a fall of the walking aid associated with the subject, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, when the angular value is greater than first pre-determined threshold value and the aggregated value is greater than the second pre-determined threshold value.
[0033] The signal processing unit further includes triggering each of the plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, based on detecting the fall of the walking aid associated with the subject. The signal processing unit further includes dynamically release each of the plurality of deployable supports, in a pre-defined degree of angle of rotation of each of the plurality of deployable supports, in response to triggering each of the plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid.
[0034] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGs. 1 through FIG. 8 where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments, and these embodiments are described in the context of the following exemplary system and/or method.
[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an emergency response apparatus 100 for a walking aid associated with a subject, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The emergency response apparatus 100 includes a plurality of deployable supports 104-1, 104-2…..104-N (individually referred to as the deployable supports 104, and collectively referred to as the deployable supports 104 or the plurality of deployable supports 104), and a plurality of actuators 108-1, 108-2, 108-3…...108-N (individually referred to as the actuator 108, and collectively referred to as the actuators 108 or the plurality of actuators 108).
[0036] The plurality of deployable 104 supports may be slidably coupled, via pivot points, within each of the plurality of actuators 108. Each of the plurality of actuators 108 are configured to control a strength of a magnetic field within each of the plurality of actuators 108. Each of the plurality of actuators 108 further configured to control at least one of a dynamic release and a retract of each of the plurality of deployable supports 104. Each of the plurality of deployable supports 104 includes a locking mechanism.
[0037] Further, the emergency response apparatus 100 includes a fall detection system 110 coupled to the walking aid. The fall detection system 110 includes a detection unit. The detection unit includes one or more sensors. The one or more sensors include a gyroscopic sensor. The one or more sensors are configured to detect periodically, variation in an angular acceleration and a plurality of axes of the walking aid associated with the subject. The one or more sensors are further configured to transmit periodically, angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid to the detection unit.
[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of an actuator 108 of the emergency response apparatus such as those shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The actuator 108 includes a loaded spring 202, and a fitting 204. The actuator 108 further includes a ferromagnetic core, and an axial movement component (not shown in the FIG. 1).
[0039] The axial movement component includes at least one of a rod and a plunger coupled to the ferromagnetic core. The at least one of the rod, and the plunger configured for linear movement in response to axial movement of said core. The axial movement component includes a shaft attached to the ferromagnetic core. The shaft is configured for rotational movement in response to axial movement of the ferromagnetic core.
[0040] Each of the plurality of actuators is configured to regulate the electric current flowing through a coil, to control the strength of the magnetic field and the force exerted by each of the plurality of actuators. The axial movement component of the ferromagnetic core comprises a guide configured to maintain alignment of the ferromagnetic core within the coil during the axial movement of the ferromagnetic core.
[0041] Each of the plurality of deployable supports 104 slidably coupled, via the pivot points further includes rotating outwards in the pre-defined degree of angle of rotation along the pivot points, when dynamically released by each of the plurality of actuators 108, preventing the subject from falling, when associated with the walking aid.
[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a fall detection system 110, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The fall detection system 110 includes the detection unit 302, a memory 304, a signal processing unit or processor 306, and a wireless communication unit 308. The signal processing unit 306 receives periodically, the angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid from the detection unit. The signal processing unit 306 determines at a high sampling rate, if an angular value of the received angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a first pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the first pre-determined threshold value. The signal processing unit 306 aggregates the angular acceleration data, received periodically for a pre-defined time. The signal processing unit 306 determines at a high sampling rate, if an aggregated value of the aggregated angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a second pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the second pre-determined threshold value. The signal processing unit 306 detects a fall of the walking aid associated with the subject, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, when the angular value is greater than first pre-determined threshold value and the aggregated value is greater than the second pre-determined threshold value.
[0043] The signal processing unit 306 triggers each of the plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, based on detecting the fall of the walking aid associated with the subject. The signal processing unit 306 dynamically releases each of the plurality of deployable supports, in a pre-defined degree of angle of rotation of each of the plurality of deployable supports, in response to triggering each of the plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid.
[0044] The signal processing unit 306 further detects periodically variation in an angular acceleration and a plurality of axes of the walking aid associated with the subject, via one or more sensors. The signal processing unit 306 further transmits periodically, by the processor (306), angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid to the detection unit, via the one or more sensors.
[0045] Further, the emergency response apparatus 100 may be implemented in hardware or a suitable combination of hardware and software. The emergency response apparatus 100 may include one or more hardware processor(s) (not shown), and a memory (not shown). The memory may include a plurality of modules (not shown). The emergency response apparatus 100 may be a hardware device including the hardware processor executing machine-readable program instructions for the emergency response apparatus 100 tasks. Execution of the machine-readable program instructions by the hardware processor may enable the proposed emergency response apparatus 100 to detects the fall and realise the deployable supports 104. The “hardware” may comprise a combination of discrete components, an integrated circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field-programmable gate array, a digital signal processor, or other suitable hardware. The “software” may comprise one or more objects, agents, threads, lines of code, subroutines, separate software applications, two or more lines of code, or other suitable software structures operating in one or more software applications or on one or more processors.
[0046] The hardware processor may include, for example, microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuits, and/or any devices that manipulate data or signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, hardware processor may fetch and execute computer-readable instructions in the memory operationally coupled with the emergency response apparatus 100 for performing tasks such as data processing, input/output processing, and/or any other functions. Any reference to a task in the present disclosure may refer to an operation being or that may be performed on data.
[0047] The hardware processor(s), as used herein, means any type of computational circuit, such as, but not limited to, a microprocessor unit, microcontroller, complex instruction set computing microprocessor unit, reduced instruction set computing microprocessor unit, very long instruction word microprocessor unit, explicitly parallel instruction computing microprocessor unit, graphics processing unit, digital signal processing unit, or any other type of processing circuit. The hardware processor(s) may also include embedded controllers, such as generic or programmable logic devices or arrays, application-specific integrated circuits, single-chip computers, and the like.
[0048] The memory may be a non-transitory volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The memory may be coupled to communicate with the hardware processor, such as being a computer-readable storage medium. The hardware processor may execute machine-readable instructions and/or source code stored in the memory. A variety of machine-readable instructions may be stored in and accessed from the memory. The memory may include any suitable elements for storing data and machine-readable instructions, such as read-only memory, random access memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a hard drive, a removable media drive for handling compact disks, digital video disks, diskettes, magnetic tape cartridges, memory cards, and the like. In the present embodiment, the memory includes the plurality of modules stored in the form of machine-readable instructions on any of the above-mentioned storage media and may be in communication with and executed by the hardware processor.
[0049] In an embodiment, the wireless communication unit 308 may transmit the sensed data associate with the detection unit 302, and the detected one or more sensed associated with the one or more sensor, to a remote-control unit (not shown), communicatively coupled to the wireless communication unit 308.
[0050] In an embodiment, the wireless communication unit 308 may receive one or more control signals to control a strength of a magnetic field within each of the plurality of actuators. Further the control signal includes controlling at least one of a dynamic release and a retract of each of the plurality of deployable supports.
[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates a solenoid trigger mechanism 400 of the actuator 108, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The solenoid trigger mechanism 400 triggers each of the plurality of actuators 108, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, based on detecting the fall of the walking aid associated with the subject.
[0052] FIGs. 5A-5B illustrate an isometric top and back view of the actuator 108, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0053] FIGs. 5C-5D illustrate an isometric front and back view of the actuator 108, in accordance with some embodiments of present disclosure;
[0054] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross sectional view of a plurality of deployable supports 104, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0055] FIG. 7 illustrates one or more graphs 700 depicting test results of detecting fall using gyroscopic sensor, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The emergency response apparatus 100 detects the fall of the walker by using two parameters which a gyroscopic sensor captures on a constant basis while the device is in ON state. An angular acceleration of the walker frame in X, Y, Z axis. The gyroscopic sensor constantly calculates the angular acceleration of the walker frame at a high sampling rate. Under repeated testing for the threshold value of angular acceleration in XYZ axis, for side falls could be finalised and used as a threshold. A change in angle in XYZ axis.
[0056] Further, the parameter that decides if the acquired angular acceleration is leading to a fall of the walker is the change in angle of the walker legs from base position (Tilt). For 0.3-0.4 seconds, the fall detection system 110 sums the last 60 readings of the gyroscope to get a rough estimation of angle change and it was calibrated with the change in angle of the walker legs. By combining the two parameters, when both threshold values hold true, the fall detection system 110 detects a fall of the walker. The preventing action was needed to be done within 0.7 seconds in total. The detection of fall happens in 0.3 seconds and thus 0.4 seconds is the window in which the protection and balancing of the walker should take place. To achieve the balance, the deployable supports are used. The deployable supports are a spring-loaded supporting leg system with two of them attached to a C section on one side, triggered by the solenoid trigger mechanism 400.
[0057] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart depicting a method 800 for managing emergency of a walking aid associated with a subject, in accordance with some embodiments of present disclosure.
[0058] At step 802, the method 800 includes receiving periodically, by a processor 306, angular acceleration data corresponding to a periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of a walking aid from a detection unit.
[0059] At step 804, the method 800 includes determining, by the processor 306, at a high sampling rate, if an angular value of the received angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a first pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the first pre-determined threshold value.
[0060] At step 806, the method 800 includes aggregating, by the processor 306, the angular acceleration data, received periodically for a pre-defined time.
[0061] At step 808, the method 800 includes determining, by the processor 306, at a high sampling rate, if an aggregated value of the aggregated angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a second pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the second pre-determined threshold value.
[0062] At step 810, the method 800 includes detecting, by the processor 306, a fall of the walking aid associated with a subject, when the angular value is greater than the first pre-determined threshold value and the aggregated value is greater than the second pre-determined threshold value.
[0063] At step 812, the method 800 includes triggering, by the processor 306, each of a plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, based on detecting the fall of the walking aid associated with the subject.
[0064] At step 814, the method 800 includes dynamically releasing, by the processor 306, each of a plurality of deployable supports in a pre-defined degree of angle of rotation of each of the plurality of deployable supports, in response to triggering each of the plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid.
[0065] Embodiments of the present disclosure provides spring loaded legs deploys by rotating 90 degrees along the pivot point when released by the actuator preventing the user from falling. The present disclosure provides simple deployment, has easy manufacturability and does not increase the base width of the walkers which are designed for standard doorways when not deployed.
[0066] The written description describes the subject matter herein to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments. The scope of the subject matter embodiments is defined by the claims and may include other modifications that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have similar elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims or if they include equivalent elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
[0067] A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the invention. When a single device or article is described herein, it will be apparent that more than one device/article (whether they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), it will be apparent that a single device/article may be used in place of the more than one device or article or a different number of devices/articles may be used instead of the shown number of devices or programs. The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of the invention need not include the device itself.
[0068] The illustrated steps are set out to explain the exemplary embodiments shown, and it should be anticipated that ongoing technological development will change the manner in which particular functions are performed. These examples are presented herein for purposes of illustration, and not limitation. Further, the boundaries of the functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternative boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. Alternatives (including equivalents, extensions, variations, deviations, etc., of those described herein) will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. Such alternatives fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments. Also, the words “comprising”, “having”, “containing”, and “including”, and other similar forms are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open-ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0069] Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
, C , Claims:CLAIMS:
We claim:
1. An emergency response apparatus (100) for a walking aid associated with a subject, the emergency response apparatus (100) comprising:
a plurality of deployable supports (104) slidably coupled, via a pivot point, within a plurality of actuators (108);
the plurality of actuators (108) associated with the walking aid, wherein each of the plurality of actuators (108) are configured to:
control a strength of a magnetic field within each of the plurality of actuators (108); and
control at least one of a dynamic release and a retract of each of the plurality of deployable supports (104);
a detection unit (302) coupled to the walking aid, wherein the detection unit (302) comprises:
one or more sensors configured to:
detect periodically, variation in an angular acceleration and a plurality of axes of the walking aid associated with the subject; and
transmit periodically, angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid to the detection unit; and
a signal processing unit (306) comprising:
a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises processor-executable instructions, which on execution, cause the processor to:
receive periodically, the angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid from the detection unit (302);
determine, at a high sampling rate, if an angular value of the received angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a first pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the first pre-determined threshold value;
aggregate the angular acceleration data, received periodically for a pre-defined time;
determine, at a high sampling rate, if an aggregated value of the aggregated angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a second pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the second pre-determined threshold value;
detect a fall of the walking aid associated with the subject, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, when the angular value is greater than first pre-determined threshold value and the aggregated value is greater than the second pre-determined threshold value;
trigger each of the plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, based on detecting the fall of the walking aid associated with the subject; and
dynamically release each of the plurality of deployable supports (104), in a pre-defined degree of angle of rotation of each of the plurality of deployable supports (104), in response to triggering each of the plurality of actuators (108), among each of the angular axis of the walking aid.

2. The emergency response apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of actuators (108) comprises:
a coil of wire wound around a cylindrical core, wherein the coil is housed within a casing;
a power supply unit, communicatively coupled to the coil, configured to apply an electric current to the coil, wherein the electric current generates the magnetic field around the coil;
a ferromagnetic core positioned within the coil, wherein the magnetic field induces magnetization in the ferromagnetic core;
an axial movement component configured to perform axial movement of ferromagnetic core, in response to the interaction between the magnetic field and the ferromagnetic core, wherein the axial movement is governed by a force acting on the ferromagnetic core; and
dynamically release the plurality of deployable supports based on the axial movement of ferromagnetic core.

3. The emergency response apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axial movement component comprises at least one of a rod and a plunger coupled to the ferromagnetic core, wherein the at least one of the rod, and the plunger configured for linear movement in response to axial movement of said core.

4. The emergency response apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axial movement component comprises a shaft attached to the ferromagnetic core, wherein the shaft is configured for rotational movement in response to axial movement of the ferromagnetic core.

5. The emergency response apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of actuators (108) is configured to regulate the electric current flowing through the coil, to control the strength of the magnetic field and the force exerted by each of the plurality of actuators (108).

6. The emergency response apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axial movement component of the ferromagnetic core comprises a guide configured to maintain alignment of the ferromagnetic core within the coil during the axial movement of the ferromagnetic core.

7. The emergency response apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of deployable supports (104) comprise a locking mechanism.

8. The emergency response apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of deployable supports slidably coupled, via the pivot point, within each of the plurality of actuators (108) further comprises rotating outwards in the pre-defined degree of angle of rotation along the pivot point, when dynamically released by each of the plurality of actuators, preventing the subject from falling, when associated with the walking aid.

9. A method (800) for managing emergency of a walking aid associated with a subject, the method comprising:
receiving periodically, by a processor (306), angular acceleration data corresponding to a periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of a walking aid from a detection unit;
determining, by the processor (306), at a high sampling rate, if an angular value of the received angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a first pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the first pre-determined threshold value;
aggregating, by the processor (306), the angular acceleration data, received periodically for a pre-defined time;
determining, by the processor (306), at a high sampling rate, if an aggregated value of the aggregated angular acceleration data is at least one of a greater than a second pre-determined threshold value and lesser than the second pre-determined threshold value;
detecting, by the processor (306), a fall of the walking aid associated with a subject, when the angular value is greater than the first pre-determined threshold value and the aggregated value is greater than the second pre-determined threshold value;
triggering, by the processor (306), each of a plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid, based on detecting the fall of the walking aid associated with the subject; and
dynamically releasing, by the processor (306), each of a plurality of deployable supports in a pre-defined degree of angle of rotation of each of the plurality of deployable supports, in response to triggering each of the plurality of actuators, among each of the angular axis of the walking aid.

10. The method (800) as claimed in claim 9, wherein receiving periodically, angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid from the detection unit, further comprises:
detecting periodically, by a processor (306), variation in an angular acceleration and a plurality of axes of the walking aid associated with the subject, via one or more sensors; and
transmitting periodically, by the processor (306), angular acceleration data corresponding to the periodically detected variation in the angular acceleration of the walking aid to the detection unit, via the one or more sensors.