Electric wheelchair: TiltDrive Mobility Chair
Phase 1
Type of project: Exploratory Research
Disability concerned: Motor disability
Topics: Autonomy, Mobility and travel
Status: Completed
The TiltDrive project aims to develop an electric wheelchair with four independent arms, the main objective of which is to improve the stability and mobility of people with disabilities.
In the past, our laboratory has carried out projects that laid the foundations for this idea. Plans, CAD drawings and other results were obtained. On this basis, we have identified three major critical points:
- Selection of non-optimal components impacting on drawings and plans. The selection of electrical and mechanical components can be complex due to the multifactorial nature of these choices.
- Current drawings are adapted to components that will probably not be selected for the prototype and will therefore have to be modified.
- Lack of data on the real needs of the people concerned.
To resolve these problems, two solutions were envisaged, and formed the objectives of our exploratory research:
- A campaign to collect data on users’ needs and expectations: gathering the opinions of the people concerned will ensure that the development priorities chosen by the laboratory correspond to the expectations and needs of future users.
2. Find an industrial partner for implementation: team up with a partner who has in-depth knowledge of the market and the components used, and who has already completed the process leading to the marketing of a product of this type.
Results: In the course of this exploratory research, responses were gathered through interviews with two of the stakeholders involved. They also took part in drawing up a questionnaire to survey other users (30 valid responses in all). In addition, an implementation partner joined SCI-Mobility to further develop the prototype.
The FRH training day helped us to better understand the expectations for a project such as this. For example, we avoided aiming for over-ambitious results from the outset. Instead, the emphasis was placed on more concrete and realistic objectives, such as highlighting user needs and finding an industrial partner, which is essential for the rest of the project (prototyping, Innosuisse project).
The balance between SCI-Mobility’s engineering-oriented ideas and the practical proposals of the contributors helped lay a solid foundation for this future prototype. The skills of the team members (engineering, organisation, physiotherapy) were put to good use. Finally, the collaboration between the French-speaking and German-speaking members has enabled us to reach a wider range of people surveyed.
A prototyping project will be launched with our new partner. A discussion on the components to be used, taking into account their opinion, their knowledge of the market and potential suppliers, will take place. The existing plans can then be revised, or even restarted if the changes are significant. Above all, the prototype must meet the needs defined by the people involved. Plans and a cost estimate will be drawn up, with a view to construction and implementation as part of an application for a more ambitious Innosuisse project. SCI-Mobility will act as an academic partner, tackling the technical issues and challenges, in particular the construction, regulation and programming of the prototype.
