Smart Power Assisted Module (SPAM)

Principal Investigator/s: Rory Cooper, PhD, Rich Simpson, PhD, Ed LoPresti, PhD

Co-Investigator/s: Songfeng Guo, PhD, Dan Ding, PhD

10/2002-Ongoing

The concept of power assistance for a manual wheelchair is relatively new, and represents a viable alternative for individuals who are unable to generate sufficient propulsion force to use a manual wheelchair, but do not wish to use a traditional powered mobility device. In a power assisted manual wheelchair, the traditional rear wheel hubs are replaced with motorized hubs that serve to magnify or reduce (i.e., brake) the propulsive force applied to the rear wheels by the user. We propose to use power assistance as the basis for a Smart Power Assistance Module (SPAM) that provides independent mobility to non-ambulatory individuals with visual impairments.

A prototype of the SPAM has been developed and evaluated. The prototype consists of two Yamaha JWII pushrim-activated power assist wheelchair hubs, a Tattletale microprocessor, and a collection of sonar and infrared range finders attached to a Quickie manual wheelchair. This prototype has been evaluated in user trials involving two individuals who are blind but do not normally use a wheelchair. This project has been completed, and additional funding is being pursued.