Towards Accessible Mobility Support: User-Centered Design of a Passive, Multi-Functional, Low-Cost Knee Exoskeleton
Abstract
Walking aids are critical for people with mobility impairments, yet current options remain unsatisfactory. Static knee braces are lightweight and affordable, but their rigid joints force users into unnatural gait patterns, leading to fatigue, reduced safety, and high abandonment rates. Robotic exoskeletons, in contrast, offer dynamic assistance that adapts to gait phases but rely on sensors, motors, and batteries that make them heavy, complex, and prohibitively expensive.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics
Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery
Muscle activation and electromyography studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
- Publisher
- ACM
- Pages
- 1–21
- Publication date
- 13 April 2026