Towards technology localization: Controlling treadmill speed using heart rate

Abstract

A system to help patients recovering from heart surgeries and procedures is designed. The pulse width modulation output of an Arduino microcontroller controls the speed of a DC motor that simulates a Treadmill machine. The control adjusts the duty cycle of the pulses coming out of the Pulse width modulation (PWM) output of the controller. If the heart rate of the patient running on the machine is lower than a set value recommended by a cardiologist, then the PWM signal increases the speed of the motor to make the patient run faster. If the heart rate of the patient running on the machine is higher than the value set by the cardiologist, then speed of the motor is reduced by the controller. The system was designed and implemented using locally purchased components, which shows that local manufacturing of devices is possible and investors can invest in local companies.