What it does
As pet dogs and elders age, they may face the challenge of limited mobility. Through modular design and a series of assistive accessories, this mobility aid helps elders and pet dogs to reduce the burden and spend time together when they are out and about.
Your inspiration
With the aging society coming, more and more elderly individuals are choosing to keep pet dogs as companions. According to research, pet dog owners have a 40% lower risk of developing cognitive disorders and a nearly 50% lower risk of losing the ability to live independently compared to non-owners. In addition, walking a dog not only improves physical fitness and daily activity levels, but studies also show that dog owners can achieve 150 minutes of exercise per week, which helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, increase overall physical activity, and decrease the frequency of medical visits.
How it works
This mobility aid features a modular design and a range of assistive accessories. Users can replace the front wheels and fasteners as needed, allowing the frame to adapt into three different configurations to suit various requirements. Assistive components can also be selected based on the dog’s physical condition, providing support to specific areas and ensuring a more comfortable walking experience. When the elderly needs to rest, the mobility aid can be converted into a resting mode. When not in use, it can be folded to reduce its size, making it easy to store against a wall or in a car trunk.
Design process
Modular design is a key feature of this project, as it aims to be adaptable not only for senior dogs but also for pets with various needs. It aligns with sustainable trends by extending product lifespan through interchangeable modules. Three main modular configurations were developed: assist straps for dogs with joint degeneration and weakness, rear-leg assist frames for dogs with mobility issues in their hind legs, and anti-pull leashes with harnesses for general adult dogs. Additionally, six types of accessory modules were designed, allowing users to choose appropriate support components based on their pet’s physical condition. The goal is to help elderly owners and their dogs go out for walks and activities safely, promoting both physical and mental well-being through companionship and increased mobility.
How it is different
The “Bond Walker” is a mobility aid specially designed for the elderly and pet dogs, focusing on the common aging situation of the elderly and pet dogs, combining the needs of the elderly and pets, modular design and a series of accessories can be adapted to different needs, hoping to achieve the concept of “people and dogs together”, advocating an easy to go out and stress-free mode, so that the elderly and pet dogs can build a deeper emotional connection in the companionship of each other.
Future plans
In the future, we will conduct field tests in different outdoor areas to observe and collect feedback from users, further optimize the structure and functions to enhance operational convenience and stability, and expand the module accessories to accommodate different dog breeds and expand the user base. In addition, we hope to introduce intelligent positioning, health monitoring and other auxiliary functions, such as pet posture sensing and gait stability reminders for the elderly, to combine mobility safety and health care, and to develop towards intelligent and personalized assistive devices to satisfy more diversified scenarios.
Awards
DNA Paris Design Awards 2025/Winner in Product Design/Design for people
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