Abstract
This paper describes evaluating Variably Configured Wheelchairs (VCW) and automation of transformation control. As Japan becomes an aging society, the number of wheelchair users will also increase. Therefore, the safety and comfort of wheelchairs will become important increasingly. This research has been focusing on the escalator travel of wheelchair. An escalator is most effective means of moving between floors. If conventional wheelchairs could be used on an escalator, it would be most helpful for those who require them. Various VCW has been developed. So, it's evaluated which wheelchair is suitable most for escalator travel. Moreover, it aims at proposing and proving the way to control seat posture about the wheelchair applying trapezoidal link mechanism which can respond for escalator to go up and get down. In order to check the tracking, mechanical simulator step motion applied and it is moved successively. When the simulator of step motion is moving, the performance of VCW is measured. The experimental result shows that the proposed Variably Configured Wheelchair can adapt to the escalator motion adequately.
