Abstract
Abstract
How do people control their gait in unsteady conditions such as walking over uneven terrain or over varying distances? Do young and older adults respond differently to such unsteady conditions? And can wearable technology be used to enhance gait in older adults? In this talk, I will address these questions using an optimal control framework combined with experiments utilizing wearable sensors. By comparing human walking strategies to model predictions, I aim to uncover the fundamental principles of gait control. I will also discuss how sensory feedback influences balance and introduce a new method for assessing gait speed which is one of the most important indicators of healthy aging. Finally, I will present a wearable system that delivers low-level electrical stimulation to the balance organs, showing promising results for improving standing and walking stability in older adults.