The broader impact/commercialization potential of this project is the increased access and independence for power wheelchair users in employment, educational, home and community environments. This will create a paradigm shift in how society views individuals using wheelchairs from confining to liberating products. There will be a significant cost saving to wheelchair users and third party funding agencies by avoiding the purchase of secondary products such as lifts and ramps. The power wheelchair market at $1.1 billion in 2011 is anticipated to reach $3.9 billion in 2018. Added to this, the additional cost for ramps, lifts and architectural modifications to provide wheelchair access in private and public settings exceeds $20 Billion. The results of this research will set a higher standard for wheelchair manufacturers to push innovation and to test products using the ANSI/RESNA Standards even during product development. Collaboration with academic institutions, Veterans hospitals and clinicians provides an interdisciplinary experience for engineering students. Opportunities to design and commercialize exciting innovative products such as this barrier-free wheelchair has the potential to encourage K-12 students to enter STEM careers that positively impact the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Results of the research conducted will be disseminated through scientific and technical publications.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to test the feasibility and commercialize a power wheelchair capable of overcoming level changes in the environment that are 3? or higher without a ramp or lift. Although there are requirements for accessibility in public environments, it is not always done. In personal homes and private environments the cost to provide these adaptations is often limited. As a result power wheelchair users lose their independence and are greatly disadvantaged when they are confronted with changes in elevation. The focus of this project is to provide a solution for this immense barrier by designing a power wheelchair base capable of independently traversing changes in elevations, while maintaining all the seating, stability and maneuverability features. This unique design incorporates a three-axle base that transfers the entire power chair from one level to the other. In addition to the ability to ascend and descend elevations, it will offer users the ability to raise the seat to reach for items at standing height and lower the seat to enable the user to reach the floor. The results from this research will provide a transformational wheelchair that can adapt to the environment.
This Phase 1 research demonstrated the viability for using our design as a versatile mobility device for individuals with disabilities to overcome curbs or obstacles without a ramp or lift. This is a highly desired feature that is not offered on any commercially available wheelchair. While constructing the prototype, several improvements were undertaken. The testing of the design validated the dimensions and performance of the wheelchair in both indoor and outdoor environments. This product will increase the independence of individuals with disabilities in the employment, educational, and community environments as the mobility device can adapt to the environment and navigate level changes. The ability to overcome obstacles in a wheelchair is a very desirable feature coupled with exceptional indoor and outdoor maneuverability. The stability of the chair was evident and this can be further improved. The testing conducted in this Phase 1 research enabled us to validate the viability of our design as a suitable mobility device and solution to access level changes safely and effectively. In addition to the ability to ascend and descend elevations, our product offers users the ability to raise the seat to reach for items and view individuals standing at eye-level, while also being able to lower the seat to enable the user to reach the floor. We have gained technical knowledge that will help us improve the design further and commercialize this product. We incorporated hub-motors as an alternative to geared DC motors, which make the chair lighter and more compact. We have incorporated Lithium-Ion batteries, which is a departure from current products on the market. Besides the strong technical merit, we have thoroughly vetted the business aspect by reaching out to key customer segments that included wheelchair users, clinicians and funding agencies to validate that our product is meeting an important need. The business validation of the product was also established by developing a QFD matrix and Business Model Canvas. We have analyzed the customer needs against design requirements to move forward to a successful product launch. We expect that the results of our research will set a higher standard for wheelchair manufacturers to push innovation and to test products using the ANSI/RESNA Standards even during product development. We expect a shift in the paradigm of how society views individuals using wheelchairs from confining to liberating products.
