In the state of Uttarkhand, at the foothills of the Himalayas, our engineers observed that essential commodities like gas cylinders, food, cow feed and other essential supplies were daily carried uphill by the villagers in baskets made of bamboo skin hung on the back by a thin strap running around their shoulders. This leads to excessive loading on the shoulders and vertebra, leading to musculoskeletal disorders in the future. Our mechanical engineers then designed a device that provides assistance in carrying loads by distributing them across the body evenly unlike the conventional method. The device has been validated by biomechanical studies and field trials.

ASSOCIATED PROJECTS:

Wearable Assistive Device – Uttarakhand Deployment

ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS:

Design and Validation of a low cost wearable assistive device for carrying back loads