Research and Development of Hybrid Electric Wheelchairs

In Japan, the “Act on Promotion of Smooth Transportation, etc. of Elderly Persons, Disabled Persons, etc.: Barrier-Free Act” was enacted in 2006 to improve the accessibility of public transportation, roads, parks, and buildings, enabling elderly individuals and persons with disabilities to lead independent daily and social lives. At that time, public elementary and junior high schools, etc., were added to the list of “special designated buildings” under the Barrier-Free Act. Therefore, in facilities of public elementary and junior high schools, as well as other similar institutions, compliance with barrier-free standards is not only mandatory for construction projects of a particular scale or larger, but existing buildings are also subject to a duty to strive for compliance with these standards. However, since the budget required to rebuild facilities cannot be secured, barrier-free modifications are often implemented through renovations to existing facilities. Therefore, the upgrades have been limited to measures such as installing handrails and ramps, and sufficient width for passageways has not been secured. Especially in schools other than higher education institutions, insufficient land area is often secured, making the space feel cramped for wheelchair users. Furthermore, such schools have a higher population density than other facilities and a greater number of immature students, leading to frequent occurrences of running, sudden changes in direction, and unexpected movements. This must be considered a hazardous environment for wheelchair users. Therefore, this paper describes the implementation of a hybrid system combining manual and automatic control by installing a versatile, dedicated joystick for electric wheelchairs onto a commercially available, low-cost electric wheelchair. It also details the modification methodology and confirms that the hybridization does not compromise the inherent performance of the electric wheelchair itself.