AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill

Lead Industrial Designer- Mighty Studios 2016-2022

CHALLENGE

I spearheaded the development of a budget friendly version of the Anti-Gravity treadmill, which expedites the recovery of injured athletes by supporting their gait with the aid of a pressurized inflatable chamber. The previous model (shown below) had a steep price tag, and reducing the cost would enable more facilities to accommodate it. The plan was to market the treadmills to physical therapy clinics and universities throughout the country.

RESEARCH

My focus was on human-centric design elements, such as the handrails, console viewing angle, and a stanchion locking mechanism, considering that the users would be highly engaged during operation and would have a broad range of movements, necessitating ample clearance for their arms and legs.

SKETCHES

During the ideation phase, I explored various ergonomic aspects, including handrails, stanchions, and cockpits. The handrails were designed to be adaptable to different user heights. Additionally, a pressurized inflatable bag was incorporated to elevate the user's body off the ground, aiding their walking and facilitating running.

PROTOTYPES

The team assembled alpha prototypes for internal testing, and I supervised the fitting of components and ensured that essential functionalities were working correctly. I scheduled meetings with the engineering and marketing teams to deliberate on vital touchpoints and the accessibility of the control console.

FINAL DESIGN

The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill offers accurate unweighting technology, coupled with real-time gait analytics and video feedback. Its features comprise of adjustable handrails, a center console, and a pressurized inflatable bag.