Wheelchair Driving and Body Weight Shift : Measurements for One Hand Use Wheelchair

Abstract

In order to improve a power assist mechanism for one hand use wheelchair developed in our research group, a wheelchair with some sensors has been constructed. By using this wheelchair, torques given by human through handrims and the velocity of wheelchair have been observed on flat course and on slope. Observed data shows that human's body weight shift in wheelchair running is related to the movement of wheelchair. We consider that attention to this fact is useful for investigating effective power assist scheme.