Motorized Wheelchair Mount

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Motorized Wheelchair Mount
Client Andrea E. Johnson, CASC OTR/IT Advisor
Thomas Yen, Ph.D.
Team Tyler Lark - Team Leader Nick Harrison -
BWIG Dustin Gardner - BSAC Richard Bamberg -
Communications
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Outline

• Background
• Problem Statement
• Design Constraints
• Design Ideas
• Design Matrix
• Future Work

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Background Information

• Cerebral Palsy
• VANGUARD PLUS
• Speech generation device
• Increases independence
• Temporary mount is unsatisfactory
• No current commercial devices

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Problem Statement

• Cannot drive with current mount
• VANGUARD blocks vision
• Motorized mounting system
• Must not impair vision
• Stows safely
• Accessible while in transit

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Design Specifications

• Motorized minimal client input
• Vanguard accessible in transit
• Stored safely and within chair perimeter
• Powered from wheelchair or independently
• No interference with current functions
• Budget 1000

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Design 1 - Shoulder

• Mounts to seat or armrest
• Stored behind left shoulder
• Moves forward for operation

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Design 1 Shoulder

• Pros
• Stored out of sight
• Mechanically feasible

• Cons
• Likely to get hit
• No quick access
• Mounting difficulty
• Disliked by end-user

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Design 2 - Side

• Stores under armrest
• Slides outwards
• Unfolds into position
• Mounts on base

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Design 2 - Side

• Pros

• Compact storage
• No vision hindrance

• Cons

• Extends chair perimeter
• Damage prone
• No transit accessibility
• Mechanically complex

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Design 3 - Lap

• Stows in lap
• Mounts on base
• Swings over joystick

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Design 3 - Lap

• Pros

• Cons

• Accessible in transport
• Operational while stowed
• Stows safely
• Mechanically feasible

• Impedes desk use
• Hinders exiting chair

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Design Matrix
Accessibility in Transit (30pts) Stowage Position (25pts) Feasibility (25pts) Deliverability (10pts) Cost (10pts) Total (100pts)
Behind Shoulder Position 10 18 15 7 8 58
Under Armrest Position 8 22 10 5 6 51
Lap Position 28 20 20 9 10 87
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Future Work

• Final stowage position
• Tucked into lap (screen up)

• Proposed Design Mechanism
• Screen rotates 55-degrees
• 3 rotary cuffs, 1 linear actuator
• Concerted stowing motions (elliptical, pan/tilt)

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Usability Testing

• Tests to run for designed mechanism
• Stress and strain testing (Reliability)
• Load testing (Optimize torque)
• Motion testing (Stowage effectiveness)
• Electronics testing (Automation/Power source)

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Questions??