Title :
Design of a wheelchair with legs for people with motor disabilities
Author :
Wellman, Parris ; Krovi, Venkat ; Kumar, Vijay ; Harwin, William
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Mech. Eng., Pennsylvania Univ., Philadelphia, PA, USA
fDate :
12/1/1995 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A proof-of-concept prototype wheelchair with legs for people with motor disabilities is proposed, with the objective of demonstrating the feasibility of a completely new approach to mobility. The authors´ prototype system consists of a chair equipped with wheels and legs, and is capable of traversing uneven terrain and circumventing obstacles. The important design considerations, the system design and analysis, and an experimental prototype of a chair are discussed. The results from the analysis and experimentation show the feasibility of the proposed concept and its advantages
Keywords :
handicapped aids; legged locomotion; experimental prototype; important design considerations; motor disabled people; obstacles circumvention; prototype system; uneven terrain traversal; wheelchair with legs; Costs; Elevators; Laboratories; Leg; Legged locomotion; Prototypes; System analysis and design; Vehicles; Wheelchairs; Wheels;
Journal_Title :
Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on
