Wheelchair-bound people are capable of many things, but an obstacle they face on a daily basis is a bump in the road, literally. Gaps, bumps, curbs, and steps can all be quite challenging in a traditional wheelchair. Lifting, standing and turning around in small spaces can impede independence as well. Several innovative new chairs are being developed in hopes to change that.
At the Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan, researchers have come a long way in making a revolutionary new wheelchair that won’t let anything get in its way. At first glance it appears to be an ordinary motorized wheelchair that scoots around on four wheels. When it reaches an uneven surface however, it reveals itself as more of robot than a mobility chair.
This chair can actually climb stairs, clear uneven surfaces and step down off curbs. It also has a function that rotates the wheels in a way that it can make tight 360 degree turns easily, all by moving a joystick. The user doesn’t need to account for anything in the way, they simply aim the joystick in the direction that they wish to travel and the chair does the rest.
Sensors in the wheels look out for anything that could cause the chair to stop and account for the change in terrain. Other sensors make sure that the chair is stable enough to advance safely then it uses its wheels like legs to get around. If not, it adjusts the center of gravity until it can overcome the elevation without toppling the chair. While the chair moves over a variety of peaks and dips the seat remains level so that the passenger isn’t continually jerked around.
Researchers are confident that they have executed a model well enough to consider the chair past the concept stage. Now they are testing the experience and tweaking the usability before releasing the chair to the public.
Getting around easily is all well and good, but wheelchairs don’t necessarily help people reach items on the top shelf or read a sign posted too far overhead. A project involving 8 patents so far, 117 professors and 333 students from five universities has produced a smart wheelchair with an answer for that.
Collaborators from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, Yuan Ze University, National Tsing Hua University and National Cheng Kung University developed the i-Transport model wheel chair that can lift its passenger to a standing position.
Other features of the wheelchair include:
- A built-in microchip for monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and body temperature
- A touch screen with radio frequency identification technology that allows users to control home appliances and other electrical devices from their wheelchair
- Navigation software and obstacle detectors which allows users to enter the coordinates for frequently visited locations and change the routes upon request
“We hope these devices will help old people and the disabled take care of themselves, and enhance the quality of their interactions with family and society,” said Sung Cheng-kuo, professor at National Tsing Hua University’s Department of Power Mechanical Engineering and project director.
Image courtesy of njaj at FreeDigitalPhotos
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