Tilak Dutta

Tilak is a scientist at the KITE Research Institute at University Health Network and leads the Home and Community Team. He completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2012 at the University of Toronto focused on preventing back injury in caregivers and received funding from the WSIB to produce a set of videos for caregivers(link is external) to update their training with our current understanding of the causes of back injury. He is listed as an inventor on several patents including SlingSerter(link is external).

His past work includes studies of scooter maneuverability to make recommendations for changes to building codes as well as the design of anti-collision systems for power wheelchairs to give more wheelchair users greater independence. More recently, Tilak has also turned his attention to footwear slip-resistance testing on ice and snow. His goal is to provide consumers with ratings that define how well the footwear works on snow and ice so that we can all make more informed purchases.

Another theme in Tilak’s work includes finding ways to measure things in the real world rather than in the lab. During his PhD, he measured patient handling activities in the clinical environment. Now he is evaluating(link is external) the Microsoft Kinect to see if it can be used to measure activities outside or in people’s homes.

Finally, Tilak wants to change the way engineering design is taught. Design requires testing out ideas to see if they will work and to keep trying when they do not. Typical courses don’t give students enough time to test iterations of prototypes. Tilak incorporates design within students’ graduate projects.

Research Synopsis

The objective of Dr. Tutta’s team is to develop better tools to support successful aging in our own homes. Tilak’s primary interest is preventing injuries in caregivers through the development of improved patient lifting devices, caregiver education/coaching systems and changing how care is delivered. Other interests include fall prevention for older adults through improved footwear slip-resistance testing and development of footwear outsole materials that perform better on ice and snow. Tilak’s team designs, builds, tests, refines and commercializes these tools in collaboration with commercial partners and policy makers. The process involves iteratively testing prototypes in simulation labs, often with older adults as participants.

Recent Publications

1. Hsu J, Li Y, Dutta T, and Fernie G, 2015. Maximum achievable inclines for footwear while walking on icy slopes and cross-slopes. Applied Ergonomics, 50: 218-225.
2. Rizvi R, Naguib H, Fernie G and Dutta T, 2015. High friction on ice provided by elastomeric fiber composites with textured surfaces. Appied Physics Letters, 106(11): 11-16.
3. Dutta T, Fernie GR, 2014. Outcomes rather than outputs: Collaborative closed-loop design and commercialization. Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship, 1(1): 9-14.
4. Hsu J, Shaw R, Li Y, Novak A, Dutta T, Ormerod M, Newton R, and Fernie G, 2014. Slip resistance of winter footwear on snow and ice measured using maximum achievable incline. Ergonomics, in-press.
5. Dutta T, Holliday, PJ, Gorski SM, Baharvandy MS, Fernie GR, 2014. A biomechanical assessment of sling insertion using one or two caregivers for patient transfers. Applied Ergonomics, accepted with minor revsions.