Modeling of the Powered Module for Motorizing Manual Wheelchairs 2005-01-4114

Among manual wheelchair users has upper-extremity pain and injuries when self-propelling. However, manual propelling provides aerobic exercise. Powered wheelchairs are efficient to up/down ramps and long distance traveling, but it is heavy, bulky and the cost is very expensive. The ideal wheelchair system should have the advantages of both manual and powered wheelchairs. Therefore, it was developed the powered module for motorizing manual wheelchairs as a solution. This device is an intermediate alternative between manual and powered wheelchairs; it converts a manual wheelchair in a powered wheelchair. The module is a powered unit, which is attached, in all types of manual wheelchairs, quickly and easily by the user. It can be used for pushing or pulling the wheelchair in many environments. The purpose of this paper is to determine the dynamic behavior of the powered module-wheelchair.