Hands-on Wheelchair Simulator using Hydraulic Motion Base

Abstract

The objective of this study is to develop a wheelchair simulator suitable for barrier-free transportation. By controlling the hand-rims of the wheelchair, the operator can re-create traveling and turning motion in a virtual reality environment. The position and attitude of the wheelchair are presented to the operator with the motion of a six-axis motion base. Through a head-mounted display, a computer graphics system provides the operator with scenery that changes in accordance with the operation. To study barrier-free transportation by ship, the ship’s motion was re-created in a virtual reality environment, and the operational ability of the wheelchair was compared between the cases with and without the motion. As a result of experiment the validity of the developed system was confirmed.