Young Innovators Develop “Smart Exercise” Machine

Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Faculty of Engineering students have developed a special machine called “Active Machine” to help elderly people or individuals with limited mobility perform physical exercise more easily. The device, whose prototype has also been prepared, features a large screen in the center and is designed to be used comfortably without assistance thanks to arm pulleys on the right and left sides, as well as continuously rotating hand wheels at the lower section. The mechanism, which stands out with its multi-level height adjustment and fixed-base design, has reached the application stage for the Turkish Patent Institute. The young engineers’ project has also become a finalist in the “Healthy Individuals and Combating Addiction” category at the University Student Clubs Social Contribution Project Festival (UNIFEST), which will be held in Burdur on May 5–7.

The seven-member team from the Izmir University of Economics Faculty of Engineering consists of students Berk Fevzi Yoğurtçuoğlu, Muhammet Polatlı, Sude Rüdar, Ayça Selimoğlu, Duru Karaçelik, Emir Gül, and Alperen Yılmaz. The team spent approximately two months working on the project. The volunteer students, who are members of the IUE Engineering For Good Club and study in various fields such as electrical and electronics engineering, industrial engineering, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering, focused on every detail of the project with great care.

“IT CAN BE USED SAFELY”

Providing information about the project, IUE Industrial Engineering student Sude Rüdar said: “As a result of our field visits and needs analyses, we found that elderly individuals are not able to carry out enough daily physical movement. When we began working on the project, our main goal was to support elderly individuals and people with limited mobility in exercising safely, accessibly, and sustainably. In line with this goal, we designed a mechanism that elderly people can use safely and independently. Our system, with its rechargeable screen structure that does not require electricity, multi-level height adjustment, and fixed-base design, offers a structure that can be used safely by both bedridden and non-bedridden individuals. In the future, we plan to further develop the project by integrating it with artificial intelligence and making it more functional.”

“LOW-COST AND ACCESSIBLE”

Stating that they tested the machine on themselves and verified its mechanical safety and ergonomic suitability, Rüdar said: “Our greatest source of motivation was the idea that this low-cost and accessible system could support the independent living skills of elderly people. With this machine, we gamified physical movements and made them more enjoyable. We also added some games to the system through which users can earn points and progress through stages as they perform the movements. The machine includes two arm mechanisms that support hand coordination. At the lower part of the machine, there are discs that can rotate on command and wheels that enable movement. By sitting in front of the machine, users can easily perform physical activities aimed at improving their hands, arms, and shoulders. This project, which we brought to life with the support of the University Student Clubs Cooperation and Support Program (UNIDES), will strengthen the motivation and energy of elderly individuals or people with limited mobility.”