Development and Evaluation of Pneumatic Powered Mobility Devices

The performance of battery-powered mobility devices (PMDs) has continually improved since their invention in the 1950s due to advances in electronics and their control systems. Yet they continue to experience increases in repairs and utilize battery technologies that require long recharge times and frequent, expensive replacement. Although advances in battery technologies are ongoing, the technology is expensive and raises safety concerns. The need for the development of alternative power sources has been voiced by consumers as well as providers of PMDs. Alternative forms of power need to be researched to further improve the performance of powered mobility devices. The purpose of this project was to develop a novel power system for powered mobility devices driven by compressed air and evaluate its performance in a real-world setting. This was accomplished by following the product development process with the addition of participatory action design to maximize the potential for meeting end user’s needs. Through the development of several iterations of mobility scooter prototypes, a pneumatic-powered system was created and optimized for efficiency. The results of the mobility scooter developments were later incorporated into the design of a powered wheelchair configuration. The two types of mobility devices were tested using ISO Wheelchair Standards to evaluate their safety, durability and maneuverability of which both devices performed comparatively to their battery-powered equivalents. Additionally, a pneumatic-powered shopping cart configuration was created to test its usage in a grocery store setting. K-Means clustering analysis was performed to evaluate whether certain demographics of individuals preferred to use the pneumatic-powered cart versus the battery-powered cart of which the results revealed individuals younger than 54 years old and those who do not own a mobility device preferred to use the pneumatic-powered shopping cart over the battery-powered shopping cart. Overall, the feasibility for pneumatic-powered mobility devices to serve as an alternative to battery-powered mobility devices is plausible. Although, further improvements as well as additional pilot tests are needed prior to commercialization

DLRmagazine 171 – Awakening the sleeping giant

Until now, the energy transition has largely revolved around electricity; sustainable heat has been sidelined for quite some time. However, current uncertainty over energy supply is beginning to change this. For a while now, DLR scientists have been working on this sleeping giant, conducting research into various technologies and concepts for climate-friendly heat using renewable sources, including heat pumps, thermal wind energy, energy systems analyses and the use of lime for heat storage. The cover story of issue 171 of the DLRmagazine gives an overview of the different aspects and potential of heat. We also interview Christian Sattler, Divisional Board Member for Energy and Transport, to understand whether we are facing a ‘heat problem’

Review of Modern Vehicle Powertrains and Their Modelling and Simulation in MATLAB/Simulink

Thanks to technological advances and environmental standards, as well as changing usage patterns, road vehicles are constantly developing. Electric and hybrid vehicles are playing an increasingly important role in today’s road transport. The most significant changes are probably in the powertrain of vehicles. The efficiency of internal combustion engines increases while their emissions continue to decline. In addition, high performance electric motors, batteries and even fuel cells play an increasingly important role in hybrid and electric vehicles. In this publication, we review the drive systems of current modern vehicles and the types and characteristics of their major components. We also review the available models and computer programs for their simulation, focusing mainly on MATLAB/Simulink applications. Based on this, we can develop our own models and simulation programs which will help us to perform different driving dynamics simulations and to compare the performance, dynamic and energetic characteristics of these powertrains and their components to each other

Urban and extra-urban hybrid vehicles: a technological review

Pollution derived from transportation systems is a worldwide, timelier issue than ever. The abatement actions of harmful substances in the air are on the agenda and they are necessary today to safeguard our welfare and that of the planet. Environmental pollution in large cities is approximately 20% due to the transportation system. In addition, private traffic contributes greatly to city pollution. Further, “vehicle operating life” is most often exceeded and vehicle emissions do not comply with European antipollution standards. It becomes mandatory to find a solution that respects the environment and, realize an appropriate transportation service to the customers. New technologies related to hybrid –electric engines are making great strides in reducing emissions, and the funds allocated by public authorities should be addressed. In addition, the use (implementation) of new technologies is also convenient from an economic point of view. In fact, by implementing the use of hybrid vehicles, fuel consumption can be reduced. The different hybrid configurations presented refer to such a series architecture, developed by the researchers and Research and Development groups. Regarding energy flows, different strategy logic or vehicle management units have been illustrated. Various configurations and vehicles were studied by simulating different driving cycles, both European approval and homologation and customer ones (typically municipal and university). The simulations have provided guidance on the optimal proposed configuration and information on the component to be used

Exploration of robotic-wheel technology for enhanced urban mobility and city scale omni-directional personal transportation

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-52).Mobility is traditionally thought of as freedom to access more goods and services. However, in my view, mobility is also largely about personal freedom, i.e., the ability to exceed one's physical limitations, in essence, to become "more than human" in physical capabilities. This thesis explores novel designs for omni-directional motion in a mobility scooter, car and bus with the aim of increasing personal mobility and freedom. What links these designs is the use of split active caster wheel robot technology. In the first section, societal and technological impacts of omni-directional motion in the city are examined. The second section of the thesis presents built and rendered prototypes of these three designs. The third and final section, evaluates implementation issues including robotic controls and an algorithm necessary for real world omni-directional mobility.by Raul-David Valdivia Poblano.S.M

A review on power electronics technologies for electric mobility

Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions are a key topic addressed by modern societies worldwide. As a contribution to mitigate such effects caused by the transportation sector, the full adoption of electric mobility is increasingly being seen as the main alternative to conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which is supported by positive industry indicators, despite some identified hurdles. For such objective, power electronics technologies play an essential role and can be contextualized in different purposes to support the full adoption of electric mobility, including on-board and off-board battery charging systems, inductive wireless charging systems, unified traction and charging systems, new topologies with innovative operation modes for supporting the electrical power grid, and innovative solutions for electrified railways. Embracing all of these aspects, this paper presents a review on power electronics technologies for electric mobility where some of the main technologies and power electronics topologies are presented and explained. In order to address a broad scope of technologies, this paper covers road vehicles, lightweight vehicles and railway vehicles, among other electric vehicles.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia with-in the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2020. This work has been supported by the FCT Project DAIPESEV PTDC/EEI-EEE/30382/2017, and by the FCT Project new ERA4GRIDs PTDC/EEI-EEE/30283/2017. Tiago Sousa is supported by the doctoral scholarship SFRH/BD/134353/2017 granted by FCT

A Major Study of American (Ford) Compared with Japanese (Honda) Automotive Industry: Their Strategies Affecting Surviabilty

Understanding the role of technology, in the automotive industry, is necessary for the development, implementation, service and disposal of such technology, from a complete integrated system life cycle approach, to assure long-term success. This dissertation provides a unique complete characterization of the system life (cycle) business major cost elements of the automotive industry the subsystems, cost elements, interplay and interdependencies that affect the total real life cycle cost and value the various stated product, organizational, and process initiatives intended to produce significant improvements in the American automobile industry, as compared to the Japanese. This dissertation adds a perspective, understanding, and new insights of the drivers of business/technology changes and challenges that are likely to occur over the next 5-10 years. Research was carried out by an extensive review of publications, technical journals, articles, government agency documents, industry publications, annual reports and company bulletins, data and announcements. Results were generated and compared with past industry leaders\u27 effort

Adaptive Robotic Chassis (ARC)

The ARC is a width adjusting agricultural robot and accommodates auxiliary functions for supporting crop production and maintenance. Easily interchangeable payloads and components provide a modular solution to perform focused crop surveying functions with the potential for herbicide distribution, weeding, and harvesting while driving through varying crop rows. The potential auxiliary functions will be implemented by future teams with this year\u27s effort being put toward finishing the physical chassis. The final product was successfully designed to weigh approximately 600 pounds targeting rolling speeds of0.90 fps to 2.30 fps with proof of concept shown in testing consisting of chain drive attached to wheels to show speeds are attainable as well as bench tests to show differential control capabilities

Intelligent and Efficient Transport Systems

The aim of this book is to present a number of digital and technology solutions to real-world problems across transportation sectors and infrastructures. Nine chapters have been well prepared and organized with the core topics as follows: -A guideline to evaluate the energy efficiency of a vehicle -A guideline to design and evaluate an electric propulsion system -Potential opportunities for intelligent transportation systems and smart cities -The importance of system control and energy-power management in transportation systems and infrastructures -Bespoke modeling tools and real-time simulation platforms for transportation system development This book will be useful to a wide range of audiences: university staff and students, engineers, and business people working in relevant fields