老年人口快速增加與銀髮族人口日益增多，在老化過程中，最顯著的表徵便是體力下滑，因此銀髮族行走時需要使用助行器。本研究期望提出一種無論陡坡或跌倒導致輪速加快時，可產生自動減速的智慧型輪組機構，以避免推行者輪速過快而發生危險。除智慧型助行器試樣生產成果外，本研究執行與隆羽實業股份有限公司配合，將銜接公司現有的優良製造規範(GMP)品質系統架構，進一步申請本助行器的製造與銷售醫療許可證。初期規劃申請的國家地區包括台灣(TFDA)、美國(FDA)與歐盟(CE MDD)，並且進行產品相關功能的評估與試樣銷售。並儘量應用現有的車架與輪組半成品，以降低整組助行器的製造成本，進而提升開發成果在台灣與歐美等地區的市場競爭力。
國內外之技術評估
本研究國內外相關技術的評估說明如下：
台灣銀髮族所使用的助行器，多以手持式的傳統形式為主，智慧型助行器的使用並不普遍。
國外現有的助行器無法提供輪速急拉升時的自動煞車機構，以保護銀髮族陡坡或跌倒導致輪速加快時的使用安全性。
現有的助行器並無完整貼心的休憩數位化設備，例如衛星定位、收納座位、餐飲橫桌、警示燈號與調幅廣播裝置等。
技術提升指標與效益
本研究整合臨床、學術與產業相關的專業人才，投入高價位智慧型助行器開發，預期參與公司技術提升的指標和經濟效益如下：
學術研究效應：本研究案將整合臨床、學術與產業專才，進行相關的自動減速機構設計分析與功能性評估，產出相關的學術論文研究報告。
商業發展效應：執行成果可大幅增加合作廠商在智慧型行動輔具的營收，以拓展公司在歐美市場高價行動輔具的競爭力。
臨床治療效應：期望能夠提供老齡化社會需要的智慧型行動輔具，避免使用者上下坡或突然可能跌倒等輪速加快的情況發生。
關鍵字：生物力學輔具、機構設計、助行器

As the population rapidly aging and elder people gradually increasing, the dysfunction of the normal walking has been as one of the common problem for the modern society. At present, the various types of the walker have been developed to enhance the walking stability of the elder and/or hobbled users. This project aims to develop an automatically braking walker that can avoid the unexpected acceleration of the walker movement. This can significantly reduce the injury risk of the user in the condition of steep slope and sudden fall. In addition of design and manufacture, this project is devoted to the FDA, TFDA, and CE certification of the innovative walker. Compared with the two predicted products, some evaluations of the designed walker are executed to validate the functionality and safety of the newly designed walker. This can greatly enhance the profit income of the incorporated company and shorten the period of the walker design.
About the speed-controlled walker, the assessments of the domestic and foreign techniques are described below:
The walkers used in Taiwan are nearly the handheld type without wheels. The intelligent walker is not yet widespread.
The existing counterparts in the foreign market cannot provide the satisfactory ability to control the sudden increase in the wheel’s speed.
No walker has been equipped with the satellite positioning, sitting and eating tables, warning lights, and radio.
This project integrates the academic, industrial, and clinical experts to develop the high-priced intelligent walker. The effects of the project execution include 1) the academic research of the speed-controlled mechanism for the intelligent walker, 2) the significant enhance in the market income and market competitiveness of the participating company, and 3) the innovative improvement of the walk to provide more safe vehicle for the elder and/or hobbled users.
Keywords：biomechanical assistive device, mechanical designing, walker

1.國家發展委員會http://www.ndc.gov.tw/Content_List.aspx?n=5654361B474B8EFF
2.林智惟(2004)。熟年風華: 50-64歲經歷台灣關鍵發展的世代。統一夢公園，17
3.Bachschmidt, R. A., G. F. Harris, and G. G. Simoneau. "Walker-assisted gait inrehabilitation: a study of biomechanics and instrumentation." IEEETrans.Neural Syst.Rehabil.Eng 9.1 (2001): 96-105
4.Charron, P. M., R. L. Kirby, and D. A. MacLeod. "Epidemiology of walker-related injuries and deaths in the United States." Am.J.Phys.Med.Rehabil. 74.3 (1995):237-39.
5.Crosbie, J. "Comparative kinematics of two walking frame gaits." J.Orthop.Sports Phys.Ther. 20.4 (1994): 186-92
6.Honeyman, P., P. Barr, and D. G. Stubbing. "Effect of a walking aid on disability,oxygenation, and breathlessness in patients with chronic airflow limitation."J.Cardiopulm.Rehabil. 16.1 (1996): 63-67.
7.Ishikura, T. "Biomechanical analysis of weight bearing force and muscle activation levels in the lower extremities during gait with a walker." Acta Med.Okayama 55.2 (2001): 73-82.
8.Simoneau, G. G., G. W. Hambrook, G. F. Harris. "Upper extremity musculoskeletal loads when using a walker for ambulation" 23rd annual meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics. October 21-23(1999)
9.Deathe, A. B., R. D. Pardo., A. D. Winter. "Stability of walking frames." J. Reh. Res.And Dev., 33(1996): 30-35.
10.Hankbrook, G. W., et. al. "Biomechanical effect of changes in walker height and position on sagittal plane elbow dynamics for rehabilitation purposes." 20th annual conference of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society,20.5(1998)
11.Simoneau, G. G., G. W. Hambrook, G. F. Harris. "Upper extremity musculoskeletalloads when using a walker for ambulation" 23rd annual meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics. October 21-23(1999)
12.Deathe, A. B., R. D. Pardo., A. D. Winter. "Stability of walking frames." J. Reh. Res.And Dev., 33(1996): 30-35.
13.Jebsen, R. H. "Use and abuse of ambulation aids."JAMA 63 (1967):199
14.Rajeswari, K., M. R. Cheng., O. U. Scremin. "Methods for estimation the proper length of a cane." Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil, 76(1995):1173-1176
15.Joshua Finkel, "A Guideline for the Design of a Four-Wheeled Waliker" Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Toronto,1997
16.K.Bolante, N. Carrillo ,H. T.Takahashi, "Adjustable Rollator with Dual Brake System to Enhance Stability",Stevens Institue of Technology,IEEE2012
17.Masato Takanokura, Toshihiro Yamauchi, "Biomechanical Analysis of Four-Wheeled Walker for an Elderly Person",ISB XXth Congress-ASB 29th Annual Meeting July 31-August 5,Cleveland,Ohio
18.A.Barry Deathe,MD.,Richard D.Pardo,MSc.,David A.Winter,PhD.,Keith C.Hayes,PhD.,Jennifer Russell-Smyth,BScCP, "Stability of Walking Frames",Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Develoment,1996
19.黃建華、裴駿, "使用行行助行器行走於斜坡之動作分析"2010
20.Hamid Bateni,PhD,Brian E. "Assisitive Devices for Balance and Mobility:Benefits,Demands,and Adverse Consequences"2005
21.James Yungjen Tung, "Develoment and Evaluation of the iWalker:An Instrumented Rolling Walker to Balance and Mobility in Everyday Activities",2010
22.Masato Takanokura, "Optimal handgrip height of four-wheeled walker on various road conditions to reduce muscular load for elderly users with steaty walking",ELSEVER Journal of Biomechanics,2010
23.Masato Takanokura, " Theoretical Optimization of Usage of Four-wheeled Walker and Body Posture of Elderly Users for Comfortable Steady Walking"2008
24.戴志明, " 折疊式電動自行車之研究",國立南台科技大學機械工程研究2007
25.凌偉益, "腳踏車摺疊機構之構造分析與最佳化尺度設計"
26.徐正會, "折疊式輪椅之回顧與分析",2004
27.邱泰諭, "折疊車機構之分析與設計",2008