Tri-wheel stair walker: Design proposal of auxiliary walker usable at district including stairway

Abstract

This study is to suggest a new auxiliary walker which 1) can be used not only on flat but also in real urban environments; 2) can be used without psychological burden when going outside; and 3) can be manufactured with low cost to improve the mobility of the elderly and to lead to a healthy and pleasurable life. We investigated the characteristics of the movement of the elderly and proposed the design concept Tri-Wheel Stair Walker based on interviews with and observation of elderly users. The concept is expected to be a safe and cheap solution to the door-to-door mobility in a smart city.