Participatory design in the development of the wheelchair convoy system

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In long-term care environments, residents who have severe mobility deficits are typically transported by having another person push the individual in a manual wheelchair. This practice is inefficient and encourages staff to hurry to complete the process, thereby setting the stage for unsafe practices. Furthermore, the time involved in assembling multiple individuals with disabilities often deters their participation in group activities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Wheelchair Convoy System (WCS) is being developed to allow a single caregiver to move multiple individuals without removing them from their wheelchairs. The WCS will consist of a processor, and a flexible cord linking each wheelchair to the wheelchair in front of it. A Participatory Design approach – in which several iterations of design, fabrication and evaluation are used to elicit feedback from users – was used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An iterative cycle of development and evaluation was followed through five prototypes of the device. The third and fourth prototypes were evaluated in unmanned field trials at J. Iverson Riddle Development Center. The prototypes were used to form a convoy of three wheelchairs that successfully completed a series of navigation tasks.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A Participatory Design approach to the project allowed the design of the WCS to quickly evolve towards a viable solution. The design that emerged by the end of the fifth development cycle bore little resemblance to the initial design, but successfully met the project's design criteria. Additional development and testing is planned to further refine the system.</p

Design of a custom racing hand-cycle: Review and analysis

Purpose. This paper describes the design, manufacture and evaluation of a custom hand-cycle with a Delta-style frame and fork steering. The state of hand-cycle design and future design directions are also examined. Method. The design of the custom hand-cycle was based on these criteria: Light weight, aerodynamics, climbing ability, ergonomic fit and the user's specific needs. We designed and built a custom hand-cycle for one expert user, therefore, the user's personal needs were key design drivers. The hand-cycle was evaluated by the user over three years of use. Results. During three years of evaluation and over 8000 km of use there were two frame failures: i A crack propagated around one of the tubes connecting the mainframe tube to the headset tube; and ii a crack propagated around the circumference of the curved part of the main frame tube directly behind the seat. The first failure was repaired and after the second, the device was retired. The evaluation of this design serves as a basis for a new set of design criteria. Conclusions. Large amounts of frame flexion can indicate eventual plastic deformation and failure. Future hand-cycle designs should see the use of more advanced materials, finite element analysis software, and continued incorporation of bicycle technology and design innovation. © 2009 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved