ARCH Walking Simulator on Kickstarter - Interview

Feb 24
8 min read

ARCH Walking Simulator supporting circulation

Campaign Overview

ARCH Walking Simulator is a wearable health technology device currently live on Kickstarter, designed to mechanically simulate the calf muscle pump while you remain seated in order to support circulation during prolonged inactivity.

Platform: Kickstarter
Category: Wearables
Price Range: $594 – $647
Funding Status: US$ 86,868 pledged at time of writing
Estimated Delivery: September 2026
Creator: ARCH Technology
Location: Dover, Delaware, USA

This campaign introduces a new preventive health wearable category, combining robotic microactuators and machine-learning-driven adaptive circulation support.

We spoke with the founders of ARCH Technology about their ambitious mission behind ARCH Walking Simulator on Kickstarter. With over two decades of shared history and 15 years dedicated to healthcare and vascular surgery, their approach goes beyond launching a device. It reflects a preventive philosophy shaped by firsthand experience with the growing burden of sedentary lifestyles and chronic vascular conditions.

Here is what they shared with us.

Redefining Movement: Why Create ARCH on Kickstarter?

ARCH introduces a completely new category with the concept of a wearable “Walking Simulator.” What was the pivotal moment that convinced you that simulating the calf muscle pump mechanically was not just possible, but necessary in today’s sedentary world?

We have known each other for over 20 years. What started as a school friendship evolved into a professional journey, and the last 15 years of our careers have been dedicated to healthcare. For the past 10 years, we focused specifically on developing new treatment approaches in vascular surgery.

Throughout these 20 years, two questions never left our minds.

The first was simple but profound:Why are cardiovascular diseases the leading cause of death worldwide?

The answer became increasingly clear. Over the last two decades, with rapid technological advancement and changing work habits, our primary daily activity has become sitting. The human body was not designed for prolonged inactivity. It is unrealistic to expect our physiology to adapt to such a sudden transition into sedentary living.

Scientific data supports this concern. In the United States, approximately one in two adults lives a sedentary lifestyle. Even more alarming, physical inactivity rates among individuals under 18 exceed 80 percent. The long term implications of this trend are deeply concerning.

The second question we kept asking was this:As two young professionals who genuinely loved our work and wanted to contribute positively to society, why were patient numbers increasing every year?

We expected treatments to reduce disease prevalence over time. Instead, we witnessed a dramatic rise in chronic vascular conditions. That forced us to question whether treatment alone is truly the solution.

We came to believe that prevention, before chronic disease develops, is the real answer.

Years ago, when we first envisioned ARCH, robotics technology was neither advanced nor accessible enough to make this idea feasible. Today, the technological and economic conditions have aligned. That allowed us to finally introduce ARCH as a preventive approach to sedentary physiology.

The Walking Cycle™ Technology: Engineering a Second Heart

ARCH Wearable Walking Simulator on Kickstarter is built around your proprietary Walking Cycle™ technology, capable of simulating up to 60 steps per minute. Can you explain how the negative-positive pressure cycle and robotic microactuators work together to recreate the natural muscle pump effect?

To understand ARCH, we must first understand leg anatomy.

The veins in our legs contain one way valves that allow blood to move upward toward the heart while preventing it from flowing backward and pooling in the lower extremities.

During walking, with every step, the muscles connected to the Achilles tendon contract and expand through ankle movement. This contraction compresses the main deep vein and pushes blood upward. Because venous valves prevent downward flow, this system effectively pumps blood toward the heart. That is why this mechanism is often called the “muscle pump” or the “second heart.”

ARCH replicates this natural process using four robotic microactuators positioned over the calf muscles.

Here is how it works:

The actuators apply sequential positive pressure, pushing approximately 8 centimeters of blood upward. Then, the lower three actuators retract while the upper actuator remains in place. This creates a localized negative pressure zone below. Blood must refill that space due to the pressure gradient.

Once refilled, the upper actuator retracts while a new sequential positive pressure wave begins from below, pushing blood upward again.

This full cycle is completed in one second.Depending on need, the system can simulate up to 60 steps per minute.

This patented mechanism forms the core of our technology and represents a world first in mechanical simulation of the calf muscle pump.

Machine Learning Meets Circulation: From Reactive to Predictive Support

Unlike traditional compression devices, ARCH integrates machine learning and predictive analytics. How does ARCH analyze real-time biometric data such as heart rate, SpO₂, edema, and motion to adapt its pressure cycles dynamically, and what makes this approach fundamentally different from static compression systems?

Every individual responds differently to inactivity. The physiological changes that occur while sitting are not identical from person to person.

The challenge is not simply applying pressure. The challenge is understanding need, identifying the pattern of that need, measuring the response, and adapting accordingly.

Traditional compression systems often require legs to be elevated, can be uncomfortable, and in below knee designs may create a tourniquet effect that can negatively influence circulation. More importantly, they primarily rely on static positive pressure to move lymphatic fluid toward the venous system.

But we must ask a deeper question:How much of that intervention is truly necessary, and for how long?

Directing lymphatic edema toward the venous system cannot be done indefinitely. The underlying issue is not the lymphatic system itself. The real problem often lies in venous insufficiency. Lymphatic edema develops as a consequence of venous dysfunction.

ARCH focuses on supporting the primary venous return mechanism rather than only addressing downstream swelling.

By analyzing physiological signals and response patterns, the system is designed to adapt its support dynamically instead of applying fixed compression. This shift from static to adaptive support is what fundamentally differentiates ARCH.

Hardware First, App Later: Managing Development Priorities

You’ve been transparent that the mobile app is still under development while the device operates fully independently. Why did you prioritize firmware optimization and machine learning capabilities before finalizing the app experience, and how do you plan to integrate both seamlessly before delivery?

Before committing to a mobile application, we needed to prove that the core system truly worked.

What we are claiming is not simple. Determining how much pressure to apply, for how long, at what intensity, and at which intervals for each individual is a complex engineering challenge.

We needed to confirm that the device could autonomously determine these parameters before promising a connected experience.

We achieved that on the hardware and firmware level. However, before offering machine learning driven personalization as a full service, extensive validation and testing are required.

Our original goal was to launch on Kickstarter with the app fully completed. When we realized the app would not be ready in time, we faced a decision: delay the launch, or introduce the hardware first and integrate the app shortly after.

We chose the second path.

The device already contains the necessary connectivity components. Once installed, the mobile application will leverage the phone’s processing power and memory to enhance machine learning capabilities, creating a fully integrated adaptive system.

Creating a New Health Category: Long Term Vision Beyond Kickstarter

By defining ARCH as a “Walking Simulator,” you’re positioning it as a new product category rather than an incremental upgrade. How do you see ARCH Wearable Walking Simulator on Kickstarter evolving over the next five years in terms of public health impact, preventive care adoption, and future hardware iterations?

Chronic vascular conditions create a significant global health burden. Many of these conditions are closely associated with prolonged immobility.

Physical inactivity is linked to millions of deaths worldwide each year. This is not merely a lifestyle trend. It is a public health challenge shaped by modern work and living environments.

Our long term vision is not to replace treatment. It is to reduce the need for it.

Healthcare systems typically intervene after disease develops. Yet prolonged sitting and reduced muscle activation gradually create the physiological conditions for chronic vascular problems.

If we can support circulation during inactivity in a scalable and accessible way, even small improvements could have meaningful long term impact.

Over the next five years, we see ARCH evolving beyond a single hardware product into a scalable preventive circulation platform.

This vision includes:

Continuous hardware refinement to make the system lighter, more efficient, and more integrated into daily life
Advancing machine learning personalization to better adapt to individual physiological patterns
Expanding into corporate wellness and long sitting populations as part of broader preventive health ecosystems

By defining ARCH as a Walking Simulator, we are not introducing an incremental device upgrade.

We are initiating a new preventive health category focused on supporting human physiology in a sedentary world.

As our conversation with the ARCH founders came to a close, one thing became clear: this project is not positioned as a gadget, but as a preventive philosophy translated into hardware.

ARCH Walking Simulator on Kickstarter reflects years of clinical observation, technological patience, and a deliberate shift from reactive treatment to proactive support. Whether this Walking Simulator category reshapes preventive circulation technology will depend on adoption, validation, and long-term performance — but the ambition to rethink sedentary physiology is unmistakable.

About the creator behind ARCH Walking Simulator on Kickstarter

ARCH Technology is a health-focused startup founded by professionals with over 15 years of experience in vascular health and preventive care. Based in Dover, Delaware, the team brings together biomedical engineering, robotics, and machine learning to develop proactive circulation support technologies designed for modern sedentary life.

Frequently asked questions about ARCH Walking Simulator

How does ARCH compare to other circulation wearables?

ARCH is built to stay lightweight and portable while simulating up to 60 steps per minute even when you are inactive. That level of mechanical stepping support is positioned as nearly 30 times higher than what similar devices typically provide.

Who is ARCH designed for?

ARCH is designed for anyone who spends long periods sitting, traveling, or staying inactive. It is especially relevant for people looking to support circulation as part of everyday routines.

Can ARCH be used while walking or exercising?

ARCH is optimized for seated use. It is not recommended to use the device during walking or other active movement

Is ARCH considered a medical device?

No. ARCH is not a medical device and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any medical condition. It is positioned as a lifestyle product designed to support circulation and help reduce the effects of inactivity in daily life.

What certifications will ARCH have before shipping?

ARCH is currently in the pre-production stage, and the certification process has been underway since the prototype phase. The team aims to complete required certifications, including CE, EMC, and FCC, before final delivery.

How does ARCH Walking Simulator differ from traditional compression devices?

Unlike static compression systems, ARCH uses dual-pressure microactuators to simulate up to 60 steps per minute. The Walking Cycle™ technology creates rhythmic negative and positive pressure cycles designed to mimic the natural calf muscle pump during sitting.

Can ARCH be used without the mobile app?

Yes. The device operates fully independently. While sensor data can be transmitted to the ARCH ML mobile app for visualization and insights, all core mechanical functionality works without the app.

What biometric data does ARCH monitor?

ARCH includes sensors for heart rate (30–220 bpm), SpO2 (70–100%), motion, and tissue impedance for edema detection. This data supports adaptive pressure cycles and predictive analytics.