Attaching smart push support to the Rollz Motion

Abstract

The Rollz Motion is a mobility aid that can be transformed from a wheelchair to a rollator. Users of this Rollz Motion complain that it takes too much force to push the Rollz Motion as a wheelchair with a person inside. Especially users that live in hilly areas have these problems. This project tries to solve this problem through the creation of a power assisted push support system that can be attached to the Rollz Motion. This should lower the threshold of going for a walk and increase the range of environments that the users of the Rollz Motion can access.

Comfort -
As a first step the research focussed on how the users could benefit best from such a smart system. A force analysis validated the severity of the complaints and user interviews highlighted that users can develop a fear for mobility. The smart system should comfort the user by taking away this fear and it should comfort the push attendant by lowering the use force.

Support -
Some types of power assisted mobility aids have a high number of accidents. This shows that the user group is vulnerable. An analysis was done to test whether the Rollz Motion would be safe enough to motorise. Assistive supportive technology needs to be implemented in the design of the drive system to generate the necessary safety.

Perception -
Mobility aids suffer from product related stigma. This creates a threshold of going for a walk, makes users insecure and can have a negative effect on the mobility of the user. For new product development the stigma needs to be redesigned to make users proud and confident about using their product.

Prototype -
The first version of a push supportive system has been designed and prototyped. This system utilises a motor control algorithm that proved to be able to provide robust output in different contexts. It showed potential to lower the force of pushing a person in the Rollz Motion on a hill from 200N to 10N.