FriWalk: A Walker 2.0

At MAKO, we are particularly in support of innovative tech products that can empower users, more specifically when it comes to improving their health and giving them the requisite tools to improve their well-being. New innovative tech products and IoT have enabled major steps towards developing new product designs that will give individuals with impaired mobility more independence.

FriWalk is a cutting-edge mobility aid that uses depth sensors and cameras to analyze the user’s gait and prevent health risks. FriWalk, also known as The Friendly Robot Walker, is one of the projects started by The European Commission under the name ACANTO (A Cyberphysical Social Network using robot friends).

“The ACANTO project aims to increase the number of older adults who engage in regular and sustained physical activity.”  Researchers from several European countries are working hand in hand on this project.

A Versatile Walking Assistant: innovative tech products

FriWalk is a walking assistant 2.0 that also works as a personal trainer. The users themselves or family and friends can type in information about habits and preferences into a companion tablet (“FriTablet”) to obtain tailored physical activity recommendations.

FriWalk works as a gait analysis system equipped with a contactless heart monitor as well as a facial and gestural recognition system to detect if the activities performed were enjoyable or not. This innovative tech product walking assistant will be collecting detailed data about the users’ health as they walk.

Walk Better with FriWalk

The project has received funding from the European Commission amounting to $4.8 million. Siemens is one of the project’s major contributors. Project manager Luigi Palopoli explains that there will be two versions of the walker available: “one version of the walker for hospitals and a less expensive version that costs less than €2,000 for families” (ca $2000).

Within the next two years, 100 seniors from Spain, Italy and England will be testing FriWalk. It’s very inspiring to see countries joining forces on a common project. We support initiatives like this that can benefit the elderly and the physically impaired.

About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!