Folding Portable Walker With Lifting Function

Project Goal: Design and build a market-ready walker featuring a mechanically lifting plate that the user can use to lift objects from the ground to waist height.

Patients who experience bending mobility issues may be unable to bend to pick up objects from the ground. Commercially available grab and reach devices are often difficult to use or are too flimsy to lift heavy objects for everyday household tasks.

The Tonee Lift is a patent-pending walker with a "vertical platform-type" plate that can lift various objects from the ground while the user is standing. The team created models using Arduino IDE and SolidWorks. They analyzed the design, size, weight and structural integrity for parts and subassemblies using SolidWorks. The algorithm for the lift was a hierarchy of checks from the system inputs and outputting the motor motion that controls the lift movement.

The product can lift up to25 pounds from ground level to waist height and can withstand at least 16,000 uses. The walker weighs less than 20 pounds and is rated for indoor use on solid level ground for up to 24 uses per charge.