Powered-wheelchair users

Battery technology for wheelchair users remains unchanged despite the call for improvements by power wheelchair users. This maybe in part due to the relatively low number of units purchased, about 500,000 per annum, when compared to automotive applications with about 6.6 million per annum by a single manufacturer. Wheelchair batteries are typically rated at 12 V and 30 to 90 ampere-h capacity at room temperature. A power wheelchair draws about 10 A during use. The range of the power wheelchair is directly proportional to the ampere-hour rating for the operating temperature. 

Maheu V, Frappier J, Archambault PS, and Routhier F, Evaluation of the JACO robotic arm Clinico-economic study for powered wheelchair users with upper-extremity disabilities, IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, Zurich, Switzerland, June 29-July 1,2011. 

There are two basic classes of wheelchairs manually powered and externally powered. For practical purposes, externally powered wheelchairs are electrically powered wheelchairs. There are approximately 200,000 wheelchairs sold annually within the United States of which about 20,000 are powered wheelchairs. Most wheelchairs are purchased by third-party-payers (e.g., insurance companies, government agencies). This requires the market to be responsive to wheelchairs user s needs, prescriber expertise and experience, third-party-payer purchase criteria, and competition from other manufacturers. Despite the complicated interaction between these components, and the regulation of products by several government agencies, a variety of wheelchairs and options are available. 

Power wheelchairs are often used in conjunction with a number of other adaptive devices. For people with severe mobility impairments, power wheelchairs may be used with communication devices, computer access devices, respirators, and reclining seating systems. The integration of the users multiple needs must also be considered when designing or prescribing a power wheelchair. 

People with severe physical impairments may only be able to effectively manipulate a single input device. Integrated controls are used to facilitate using a single input device (e.g., joystick, head switches, voice recognition system) to control multiple actuators (e.g., power wheelchair, environmental control unit, manipulator). This provides the user with greater control over the environment. The M3S-Multiple Master Multiple Slave bus is designed to provide simple, reliable access to a variety of assistive devices. Assistive devices include input devices, actuators, and end-effectors. M3S is based on the Computer Area Network (CAN) standard. 

There are three elements that make up the user interface for assistive technologies the control interface, the selection set, and the selection method (Cook and Hussey, 2002). The control interface is the boundary between the user and an electronic or mechanical assistive technology device. This is what allows the individual to operate or control the device. For electronic assistive technology systems, control interfaces include joysticks for powered wheelchairs, keyboards and mouse input for computers, and communication devices and single switches used to control household devices such as lights or radios. 

User precautions includes items such as keep wheelchair in good condition, do not put heavy loads on the back of a manual wheelchair, avoid riding in the rain, avoid going down steep slopes, turn powered wheelchairs off prior to transferring, do not remove the anti-tippers, carefully read the operating manual and observe all precautions, avoid pulling backward on door or other objects when sitting in a manual wheelchair, and beware of caster flutter and have it fixed. 

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Mobility robotic aids, such as powered and/or smart wheelchairs, lower-limb exoskeletons, and active orthoses and prostheses, which improve the mobility level of the user... 

In the first phase, over 50 FCVs were demonstrated, and 12 stations were built (Figure 38.4) [24]. Data collection verified the high efficiency of FCVs under actual conditions, and also well to wheel efficiency of the entire process including production and distribution of the fuel. In the second phase, the project was expanded and 700 bar fueling was introduced with upgrades to stations and new vehicles. Some of the vehicles were tested by fleet users, and new types of small hydrogen-powered vehicles were introduced, such as fuel ceU wheelchairs and... 

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