Annika Chadha
Grade: 10
Prospect, KY
Inducted: 2024
Walker-related falls are a major issue for the elderly, leading to large numbers of hospitalizations and death. To address this, I have developed an innovative Omni Wheel to replace the straight wheel on a standard walker, for improved safety and stability. I have also incorporated additional safety features like pressure sensing to track weakness in users' mobility. This feature can be used to provide additional data for ongoing Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy. The safety enhanced walker also includes Lidar sensing to track and notify people of obstacles in the way. An automated braking mechanism adds to the safety features to help reduce the incidence of falls. All the electronics have been developed in a cost-effective manner to make it affordable. The total cost to create the Omni Wheel and the walker was less than $100. This novel invention will greatly enhance the overall usage experience for the walker user.