Title: Support system to allow powered wheelchair users to comfortably climb steps in their chairs

Authors: Kazunori Kaede; Ryohei Otsuka; Keiichi Watanuki; Keiichi Muramatsu

Addresses: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City, Saitama 338-8570, Japan ' Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City, Saitama 338-8570, Japan ' Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City, Saitama 338-8570, Japan ' Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City, Saitama 338-8570, Japan

Abstract: It is difficult for electric wheelchair users who suffer from quadriplegia or have compromised motor skills to finely manipulate a joystick. In addition, they risk losing control of the wheelchair upon impacts with steps. In this paper, we describe a system we designed to assist users in finely controlling their speed, depending on the height of the step. The system incorporates a laser range finder to remotely detect the step. During testing, we evaluated the effects of exposing the user to whole-body vibrations in order to estimate the discomfort that arose from the step height and climbing speed. We also verified that this system reduced the impact caused by collisions with steps.

Keywords: powered wheelchair; human interface; assistive technology; support system; climb steps; laser range finder; whole body vibration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDH.2018.096286

International Journal of the Digital Human, 2018 Vol.2 No.1/2, pp.27 - 44

Received: 07 Jul 2017
Accepted: 23 Apr 2018
Published online: 22 Nov 2018 *

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