Smart Wheelchair

Question 1

What is a smart wheelchair? Purpose?

Answer 1

Any motorized platform with a chair designed to assist a person with a disability, where an artificial control system augments or replaces user control.

Purpose: reduce or eliminate a user’s task of driving a motorized wheelchair.

Question 2

What does a smart wheelchair consist of? (3)

Answer 2

Computer, series of sensors, techniques of mobile robotics

Question 3

How does a smart wheelchair diagnose potential problems?

Answer 3

Study the relationship between type of wheelchair, activity, set-up, technique used, anatomy/physiology, incidence of repetitive strain injury.

Ex. Sensors measure force placed on wheels to prevent rotator cuff problems

Question 4

What was the Smart Wheel?

Answer 4

Developed to better understand the effects of wheelchair propulsion on the body, with regards to effects on the wrist and Carpal Tunnel System.

Question 5

What was the Smart Power Assist Module (SPAM) for manual wheelchairs?

Answer 5

A power assist module developed to provide obstacle and avoidance for people in manual wheelchairs with visual impairments.

Helps magnify or reduce propulsive force.