Let us explain
Our project focuses on bringing independent mobility for the first time to two students, one in middle school and one in high school through an electric chair that can be controlled by the student. The project will stay with the physical therapist, our client, so the project should ideally be sufficient for future students as well as the two we are aware of. We would also like the chair to be used as a training mechanism for assisted mobility. The electric chair will be able to move based on the child's input.
Our project will focus on development of the child and pushing them to learn how to control our device. We have a need for different types of input based on the child and their capabilities. The device will also need to be user friendly for any non-technical user when switching the input.
The three inputs we plan on utilizing is a joystick, force feedback joystick, and head switches. A force feedback joystick would be ideal in the learning aspect because it can offer resistance and vibration based on the child’s movement and surroundings. We would like programming to simulate how a physical trainer would put their hand over the student’s to teach the student where to go with increasing levels of difficulty as they progress. Head switches can be used by students who are currently familiar with the device or may not be able to use a force feedback joystick. The joystick is most commonly on current electric chairs, but it cannot give feedback. Moving to this input would be an important step for the child.
The chair will log data and be able to be inputted into any computer via USB to show results. This data can include time used, distance, and amount of times obstacles interfered with the chair. This data can be utilized for tracking a student’s progress from when they first started using the chair to any time after that.
The project's sensors will detect objects in the way and can help the child to avoid them. Inputs can be determined by switches on the back. When a certain combination is detected, it will determine what input will be used and the level of help that the chair will provide. These combinations will be available on the base for any user to quickly read off. For example, if there are four switches, a combination could be "up, up, down, down." We will also have an easy shut off where all switches are in the down position.