Design, Development and Implementation of Smart Cycling Kits for Rehabilitation Applications and End-User

There are three topics included: 1. VRACK study and improvement, 2.Smart Bike; 3. iVRACK design.;Topic 1: VRACK study and improvement.;Ankle impairment and lower limb asymmetries in strength and coordination are common symptoms for individuals with selected musculoskeletal and neurological impairments. The virtual reality augmented cycling kit (VRACK) was designed as a compact mechatronics system and a compatible module that can be mounted on most bicycles to convert them to virtual reality (VR) cycles for lower limb and mobility rehabilitation. Novel hardware components with sensors instrument monitor physiological and biomechanical parameters of participants by measuring interaction forces and cardiac activity during cycling in a virtual environment. A kinematics measurement was also added to the system. This modular adaptive system will be attached to a universal stationary bike. A personal computer can be used as an interface for the data acquisition and virtual reality environment. Due to the constrained problem definition, a combination of inertial measurement unit (IMU) and Kalman filtering was recruited to compute the optimal pedal angular displacement during a dynamic cycling exercise. Using a novel benchmarking method accuracy of the IMU-based kinematics measurement was evaluated. Relatively accurate angular measurements were achieved. The enhanced VRACK system can serve as a rehabilitation device to monitor biomechanical and physiological variables during cycling on a stationary bike.;Topic 2: Smart Bike.;The purpose of this project is to create a "Smart Bike" that will increase a cyclist's safety by tapping into the rider's visual, hearing and tactile senses. The proposed kit will be equipped with all means for monitoring and providing feedback to the cyclist and will be completely modular and easy to use. Customers' needs and perspective were determined and analyzed through statistics, interviews, and testimonials. The final product will be a detecting and responsive system in the form of a modular kit that includes proximity sensors, laser lights, vibrators, LED lights, Bluetooth module, Arduino microcontroller and a speaker. These components will be battery-powered and will work in unison to produce a novel product that will project a bike lane on the ground, interacting with cyclists, providing information to the cyclists by audit, visual, and haptic feedbacks and increase the awareness of both the cyclist and any nearby motorists.;Topic3: iVRACK project and its preliminary design.;In this study we will develop, a user-tailored home-based intelligent virtual reality cycling rehabilitation kit (iVRACK) to promote health, fitness and mobility in both healthy individuals and those with neuromuscular and cardiopulmonary disorders. The cycling kit is composed of instrumented pedals and handlebars for the purpose of measuring a user's interaction with a stationary exercise bicycle. The novel hardware will be enriched by an `agent' acting as a virtual intelligent physical therapist (ViPT). The system will be developed iteratively integrating the input from users (patients and clinicians), cycling and game experts, engineers from multiple backgrounds and rehabilitation clinician-scientists. The system mainly targets the health improvement of individuals with motor or cardiovascular disorders, but most of the deliverables are expected also to benefit healthy individuals seeking to maintain or improve their fitness; and the essential hardware components will be designed for volume manufacturing and consumer-acceptable pricing.