A simple test rig was developed to measure the capacity of the lead-acid gel-electrolyte batteries used to power wheelchairs. Results of 166 tests revealed a wide scatter of battery life with different users and also showed that, in many cases, the two batteries used in a wheelchair became unequal in charge capacity after some time in use. It is recommended that pairs of batteries should be cha...

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature to assess the efficacy of nonsurgical spinal decompression achieved with motorized traction for chronic discogenic lumbosacral back pain. DESIGN Computer-aided systematic literature search of MEDLINE and the Cochrane collaboration for prospective clinical trials on adults with low back pain in the English litera...

STUDY DESIGN A biomechanical study using human volunteers. OBJECTIVE Motorized shoulder belt tensioning is a new seatbelt technology that is likely to be incorporated into future vehicles. The objective of this study was to characterize the upper torso biomechanics of 3 sizes of adult volunteers (5th percentile female, 50th percentile male, and 95th percentile male) subjected to motorized sho...

List of Figures 1 Overview of platform design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 Cutting a wedge from a 4 × 8 sheet of plywood . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3 Arrangement of wedge-pieces for lamination (not to scale) . . . . . . 5 4 Plan for the center section (bottom view) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 5 Platform assembly (exploded section view, not to scale) . . . . . . . . 7 6...

This paper describes the development of an electrically powered wheelchair-mounted manipulator for use by severely disabled persons. A detailed review is given explaining the specification. It describes the construction of the device and its control architecture. The prototype robot used several gesture recognition and other input systems. The system has been tested on disabled and non-disabled...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of three different control methods on driving speed variation and wheel slip of an electric-powered wheelchair (EPW). A kinematic model as well as 3D dynamic model was developed to control the velocity and traction of the wheelchair. A smart wheelchair platform was designed and built with a computerized controller and encoders to record whee...

PURPOSE To explore power wheelchair users', caregivers' and clinicians' perspectives regarding the potential impact of intelligent power wheelchair use on social participation. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with power wheelchair users (n = 12), caregivers (n = 4) and clinicians (n = 12). An illustrative video was used to facilitate discussion. The transcribed interviews we...

Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient maintaining the state of well being of individuals. This study examined factors affecting and the blood vitamin C levels of motorized tricycle drivers in Parañaque City, Philippines. Consenting drivers (N=49) were included in the study and were assessed through self-administered questionnaires, 24-h food recalls, and anthropometric measurements and on the...