Researchers have created ‘energy absorbing stairs’ that could aid mobility
Scientists have created a prototype set of stairs that absorb, store and then re-apply energy as users climb and descend stairs.
Scientists in the US have created a set of spring-loaded stairs that can help users save energy as they climb and descend them.
A group of mechanical and biomedical engineers, along with computer scientists from Georgia Tech and Emory University, have built what they call “energy-recycling stairs” that compress when someone steps downwards onto them, saving energy by dampening the impact.
This energy is then returned on the way back up as they rise with the user’s foot as they step up. This can boost a person’s step by up to 37%, the research suggests.
They call the system energy-recycling assistive stairs (ERAS).
According to the research, which has been published in journal PLOS One, the overall aim of the technology is to aid those with mobility issues without reducing independence.
“Stair negotiation is a demanding task that limits the independence of individuals with mobility impairments such as muscle weakness, joint pain, or reduced sensorimotor control,” the research says.
“Current solutions providing assistance in stair negotiation are costly, energy-consuming, and do not help to retain the user’s ability to negotiate stairs independently.”
The researchers are now set to carry out further trials of the technology, and hope to create a “more refined mechanical design”.
