I-Corps: Wireless Hands-Free Mobile Wheelchair Control Kit

I-Corps：无线免提移动轮椅控制套件

• 批准号: 1648682
• 负责人: Stephanie Carey
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: University of South Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-08-15 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1648682&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; Wireless; Hands; Free; Mobile

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project focuses on allowing a greater number of people with varying abilities to independently operate a power wheelchair. The kit developed with this project can also provide more independence by freeing up the hands from operating the wheelchair and allowing for the wheelchair to be operated within a specified range - even if the user is not seated in it. This wireless control technology can be used to control other devices such as robots, travel scooters and adaptive sport devices. Using sensors that are already part of smart phones, and the software application including in the kit, a control device that is user friendly and cost effective is created. Expanding the concept of how humans control machines beyond a typical joystick can change the way society views wheelchairs and other mobile devices.This I-Corps project will explore the commercialization of a hands free wheelchair control kit that can be used by power wheelchair users, including those with a spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy or poly trauma injuries. The device is designed to allow power wheelchair users the ability to operate their wheelchair without the need to manipulate a joystick with their hands. A smartphone and its accelerometer sensors becomes the joystick by sending the control signals via Bluetooth to the controller of the wheelchair or any mobile device. The smartphone can be attached to the user's arm, head, chest, or remotely, to control the wheelchair. The kit is also designed to toggle between the wheelchair's original joystick controller and the customized smartphone controller using a switch. A wiring harness is used to connect the custom controller to the original controller of most wheelchair manufacturers for easy installation and operation. Preliminary work by the team has shown its capabilities as a successful control alternative to a joystick opening up wheelchair manipulation to a wider group of users.

该I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力致力于允许更多具有不同能力的人独立操作动力轮椅。使用该项目开发的套件还可以通过释放双手坐轮椅并允许在指定范围内操作轮椅来提供更多独立性 - 即使用户不坐在其中。 这种无线控制技术可用于控制其他设备，例如机器人，旅行踏板车和自适应运动设备。使用已经属于智能手机一部分的传感器，以及包括在套件中的软件应用程序，这是一种用户友好且具有成本效益的控制设备。扩大人类控制机超越典型操纵杆的概念可以改变社会观看轮椅和其他移动设备的方式。本I-Corps项目将探索可以使用动力轮椅使用者（包括脊髓损伤，多发性硬皮病，肌肉发育不全或多发性疾病的人）使用的无权轮椅控制套件的商业化。 该设备旨在使动力轮椅使用者能够在不需要用手操纵操纵杆的情况下操作轮椅。智能手机及其加速度计传感器通过将控制信号通过蓝牙发送到轮椅或任何移动设备的控制器，成为操纵杆。可以将智能手机连接到用户的手臂，头部，胸部或远程手机上，以控制轮椅。该套件还旨在在轮椅的原始操纵杆控制器和使用开关定制的智能手机控制器之间切换。接线线束用于将自定义控制器连接到大多数轮椅制造商的原始控制器，以方便安装和操作。团队的初步工作表明了其能力是成功控制轮椅操纵的成功控制替代方案，向更广泛的用户打开轮椅操纵。