Vikal Sharma
Palampur:
Ankita Raghuvanshi, a promising young scientist from Palampur in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, has brought international acclaim to the state and India with her groundbreaking work in health technology.
Currently pursuing her PhD in Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar, Ankita represented India at the prestigious IEEE EMBC 2025 Conference (Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society) held recently in Copenhagen, Denmark.
At the global conference, Ankita presented her innovative research titled “SmartStrideFOG”, a wearable technology system called GaitSense, designed to detect Freezing of Gait (FoG) — a debilitating symptom of Parkinson’s disease. The system employs sensory shoes and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) affixed to the feet, enabling precise measurement of spatial and temporal gait parameters.
The system’s data analytics engine identifies variations in stride patterns, offering early indications of FoG in patients.
The study, conducted on eight Parkinson’s patients and eight healthy individuals, revealed that the system could successfully detect subtle gait abnormalities, especially under dual-task conditions. Results showed a marked increase in gait variability among patients experiencing FoG, underscoring the device’s diagnostic value. This innovation could pave the way for early interventions, making GaitSense not only a technological feat but also a clinically meaningful diagnostic tool.
Ankita is no stranger to recognition. She was previously awarded the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation (GYTI) Award for her “Pragati Project”, an AI-based rehabilitation initiative aimed at supporting individuals with Parkinson’s.
A graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from NIT-Raipur, Ankita’s research interests span bio-signal processing, gait analysis, assistive technology and machine learning applications in healthcare. She was recently honored with the Best Research Paper Award (2025) at a national conference hosted by NIT-Jalandhar.
In addition to GaitSense, Ankita has developed another wearable solution named GaitWare, which combines IMU and Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) sensors to facilitate real-time gait monitoring and FoG prediction. Her technical skills extend to scientific programming, microcontrollers, data acquisition systems and AI-based analytics.
Ankita draws inspiration from her late grandfathers — Kanwar Hari Singh, a respected social worker, and Surinder Singh Raghuvanshi, who instilled in her the values of service and perseverance. She credits her achievements to the unwavering support of her father Dr Ajay Singh Raghuvanshi, Head of Department at NIIT-Raipur, and her mother Poonam Raghuvanshi, who has been her constant guide.
Ankita Raghuvanshi’s journey is a shining example of how young Indian women are leading the way in global scientific innovation. Her success is not only a moment of pride for Palampur and Himachal Pradesh, but for the entire nation. Her work holds the promise of improving the lives of thousands of Parkinson’s patients worldwide.
Vikal Sharma
