Integrating product design principles to design a smart assistive cane

This paper presents the design of a smart assistive cane using the principles of product design and quality assurance. The smart cane is aimed at improving the safety and independence of individuals with walking difficulties. The proposed cane incorporates advanced features such as GPS navigation, fall detection, adjustable height, and integrated storage. A comprehensive design process was employed, including a thorough analysis of user needs through a Kano analysis, followed by the selection of appropriate materials and manufacturing methods. The cane's structural integrity and functionality were assessed through rigorous testing and finite element analysis. This research contributes to the development of assistive technologies that can incorporate user’s necessities and builds quality into the product with the design process, significantly enhancing the quality of life for individuals with mobility challenges. It serves as a potential demonstration to designers and researchers to incorporate product design, optimization, and quality assurance principles in design of similar assistive technologies and products.