Removable Electric Wheelchair Drive System
Format
SOECS Senior Project Demonstration
Faculty Mentor Name
Kyle Watson
Faculty Mentor Department
Mechanical Engineering
Abstract/Artist Statement
The purpose of this project is to provide an inexpensive alternative to power chairs or other electrically driven mechanisms. Ideally, our design will have no impact on the wheelchair's folding mechanism. Our target is to provide hospitals and assisted-living facilities with a device that can be attached to wheelchairs that the facility already owns, rather than purchasing an entirely new system. Our design uses two motors, which are mounted on the back of a wheelchair to motorize the wheelchair. One motor is compressed to the top of each wheel in a friction motor configuration. The wheels are compressed by springs. The spring is connected to the bottom of the motor-housing and the bar where the oxygen tanks are stored. The operator must be independent of tank-supplied oxygen to safely operate the wheelchair. The two motors are controlled by a joystick and Arduino Microcontroller so the wheels can move independently of each other. Motors are mounted to a traditional wheelchair to provide a low cost alternative to a power wheelchair. The motors can be uninstalled on a single wheelchair and installed onto another wheelchair. The motors are mounted separately, which allows folding of the wheelchair for maximized storage capacity. The wheelchair is capable of moving in forward and reverse directions, as well as pivoting, to allow the operator to turn the wheelchair.
Location
School of Engineering & Computer Science
Start Date
6-5-2017 2:30 PM
End Date
6-5-2017 4:00 PM
Removable Electric Wheelchair Drive System
School of Engineering & Computer Science
The purpose of this project is to provide an inexpensive alternative to power chairs or other electrically driven mechanisms. Ideally, our design will have no impact on the wheelchair's folding mechanism. Our target is to provide hospitals and assisted-living facilities with a device that can be attached to wheelchairs that the facility already owns, rather than purchasing an entirely new system. Our design uses two motors, which are mounted on the back of a wheelchair to motorize the wheelchair. One motor is compressed to the top of each wheel in a friction motor configuration. The wheels are compressed by springs. The spring is connected to the bottom of the motor-housing and the bar where the oxygen tanks are stored. The operator must be independent of tank-supplied oxygen to safely operate the wheelchair. The two motors are controlled by a joystick and Arduino Microcontroller so the wheels can move independently of each other. Motors are mounted to a traditional wheelchair to provide a low cost alternative to a power wheelchair. The motors can be uninstalled on a single wheelchair and installed onto another wheelchair. The motors are mounted separately, which allows folding of the wheelchair for maximized storage capacity. The wheelchair is capable of moving in forward and reverse directions, as well as pivoting, to allow the operator to turn the wheelchair.