Product engineer explains how the ARCH wearable simulates walking while sitting

For many, sitting is the default posture for getting work done or relaxing. While not inherently harmful to health, the time spent sitting has been increasing. As a result, leg muscles may not receive sufficient activity to maintain a healthy balance of muscle engagement. It is easy enough to get up and stretch every once in a while, but as a product engineer of ARCH pointed out, there are some sitting situations where that may not be an option, such as driving. This is where ARCH steps in: already funded on Kickstarter, ARCH aims to address this situation and many others with the ARCH walking simulator.

By activating the muscle group attached to the Achilles tendon, the ARCH walking simulator mimics natural muscle movement, thereby returning blood to the heart and out of the user's leg. The motion is generated by an array of microactuators, controlled by sensors that monitor the user's vital signs, such as heart rate and tissue oxygen saturation (SpO2). By doing so, the team claims it can more closely match the user's circulatory rhythm and circulate blood more frequently than competitors. When asked about the force delivered by the microactuators, the team stated that they can deliver up to 3kg of force per actuator. To put that into perspective, the human thumb can reasonably apply 5kg of force, placing the actuators on the gentler side of the force spectrum.

Given that the team has packed a lot of tech into a small package, it is no surprise that the ARCH is launching at a discounted price of $594 for a single unit. With the standard number of legs being two, it seemed a curious decision for the ARCH to be sold as a single unit. However, the team responded that this was a deliberate choice, as it offered the most accessible price and flexibility of use. Many activities involve an unbalanced use of leg muscles, such as driving, and this is also ideal for those who may experience leg issues on only one side of their body. With this level of consideration, it is clear that the ARCH team has set out to deliver a product designed to help a wide range of users. For full details, users can find their full campaign linked below.