Improvement and motorization of a wheelchair

Supervisors:Eva Marin TorderaJuanJose Vazquez

EPS 2013 Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain

Accessibility and Universal Design

Project group members

2

Charlotte Berthomieu, FrancePackaging Engineering

Maurits Binnema, The NetherlandsHuman Technology

Adina Marin, RomaniaEconomic Engineering in the Mechanical Field

Jan Stepputtis, GermanyBusiness Informatics

Ludwig Siegfrids, FinlandIndustrial Engineering and Management

Table of Contents

3

1. Project tasks

2. Project progress

3. Background

4. Seat fixture

5. Handles

6. Steering system

7. Final product

8. Conclusion

Project Task

4

Improve the life of our client

Provide higher autonomyCombine two wheelchairs

Project Progress

5

Requirements

analysis

Design

Construction

Usabilitytesting

Background: Client

6

Nahuel; 13 years oldDystonic, SpasticTetra

Paresis In buggy wheelchair,

strapped

Muscle excercises with physiotherapist

Introduction movie client

7

Background: Clients Abilities

8

Learning by time

Acknowledge differences

Reacts to emotions

CognitiveNo control body & facial movements

No speech

Little/No strength

Physical

Buggy Wheelchair

9

‘EASys’ from Thomashilfen

Seating construction is used

Ergonomic benefit

Electric Wheelchair

10

‘Power Picco’ from Meyra

Bottom part is used

Stability benefit

Requirements

11

• Realistic Product; Meets standards• Indoor usage

Company

• Fits user’s capabilities• Contributes to social and physiological al benefits

Client

• Documentation• Effective teamwork• Low budget

Supervisor

Project Overview

12

Universal Seating

AdjustmentHandles

Steering System

Why a new Seat Fixture System?

13

Problem• Combine chassis of electric

wheelchair and seat• Keep each advantages

How to solve it?• Designing different solutions for

fixing the seat• Evaluating the convenience

Design: Universal Seat Fixture

14

Universal

Stable

Secure

Project Overview

15

Universal Seating

AdjustmentHandles

Steering System

Why adjust the Handles?

16

Problem• The seat covers the fixing

place• Handles are too short for the

pusher

How to solve it?• Designing a new solution• Enlargement and addition of a

steel block to move the fixingplace

Design: Handles

17

Project Overview

18

Universal Seating

AdjustmentHandles

Steering System

Why a new Steering System?

19

Problem• Actual solution not accessible

• Not enough grip in hands

How to solve it?• Research on steering systems• Comparing steering

approaches• Evaluation of convenience for

the client

Which Steering Systems are on the market?

20

Joystick Chin Sip-n-Puff Head

Voice Tongue Eye Gaze Brain

Which System meets the requirements of the client?

21

Which Steering System is the most convenient?

22

Chin

Eye-Gaze

Head

Sip-n-Puff

Brain

JoystickVoice

Tongue-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

Steering Systems

Why Chin Control?

23

Safe system

Lesstechnicalbarriers

Intuitive steering

+ Less spacefor headmovements

Not integrated in communicationsystem

Short develop-ment time

-

Design: Steering System

24

Accessible

Adjustable

Economical

Convenient

From Joystick to Chin Control

25

Final product

26

Usability & user interaction

27

Usability for the client

28

+

Quickunderstanding

Easy to learn

Easy interaction

with the others

-

Still needs help to steer

Improve his new

capabilities

Wheelchair carriage

29

+

Steering System can

be unmounted

Easy transport

of the buggy

-

Does not fold

Heavy

Costs

30

Seating systemPushinghandles

SteeringSystem

Total

Materials 13 € 6 € 28 € 47 €Human labour 35 € 65 € 120 € 220 €

0 €

50 €

100 €

150 €

200 €

250 €

300 €

Cos

ts in

€Estimated Project Costs

Conclusion

31

Nahuel will feel happier about the interaction with

others

Opportunity to have

autonomy

Challenging Project

Develop a psychological

benefit

Future work

32

Last adjustments of the steering

system

Implementation of a safety

system

Thank you for your attention!