Assistive stairs are the next best thing to an escalator in the home
Researchers have developed an energy-recycling mechanical staircase they hope will one day help older adults or those who are mobility-impaired. The device uses little power and can be placed on existing staircases to make climbing and descending easier on the knees and ankles.
Scientist Karen Liu collaborated with other engineers at Georgia Tech and Emory University to produce the prototype, which works via a system of springs and pressure sensors. The springs in the stairs compress when someone walks down the stairs, which reduces the impact on the ankle joint by 26 percent. When climbing stairs, the springs give the user a boost by releasing the stored energy, making it 37 percent easier on the knee. The results were published last…
