SEMINAR: Unsteady Bipedal Walking

Guest: Osman Darici, University of Calgary

Title: Unsteady Bipedal Walking (ME, EE, BIO)

Date/Time: December 10, 2025, 14:40

Location: FENS G035

Abstract: How do people control their gait in unsteady conditions such as walking over uneven terrain or over varying distances? Do young and older adults respond differently to such unsteady conditions? And can wearable technology be used to enhance gait in older adults? In this talk, I will address these questions using an optimal control framework combined with experiments utilizing wearable sensors. By comparing human walking strategies to model predictions, I aim to uncover the fundamental principles of gait control. I will also discuss how sensory feedback influences balance and introduce a new method for assessing gait speed which is one of the most important indicators of healthy aging. Finally, I will present a wearable system that delivers low-level electrical stimulation to the balance organs, showing promising results for improving standing and walking stability in older adults.

Bio: Osman Darici is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Human Performance Laboratory within the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. His research focuses on biomechanics and control of human gait and balance. Dr. Darici began his Ph.D. studies in the Department of Control and Automation Engineering at Istanbul Technical University while working as a senior researcher in the Informatics and Information Security Research Center at TUBITAK. In 2013, he joined the Human Biomechanics and Control Laboratory at the University of Michigan, where he completed his Ph.D. research. Since joining the University of Calgary in 2019, he has conducted research on locomotion and aging and taught Biomechanics as a sessional instructor. His position is jointly supported by the University of Calgary and Neursantys, a Silicon Valley–based technology company that develops wearable devices to enhance human balance. His work involves experimental testing and validation of these devices within human gait and balance research.