We would like to thank our mentors Dr. Valerie Bennett, Assistant Professor GPC CSME Department and Ms. Margaret Major, Project Director GPC PSLSAMP & Co-Principal Investigator GPC-STEP. We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the NSF for providing the funding to aide our research endeavors. A special thanks to GPC Clarkston Science Department for use of the Geology Lab to conduct our research.

American Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). (2002). Retrieved from http://wwww.acess-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm

Google Maps. (2013). [Pin Strikes Entertainment Centre, GA] [Street map]. Retrieved from https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

H.Xiang, A.M.Chany, G.A. Smith. (2006). “Wheel Chair Related Injuries Treated in U.S Emergency Rooms”. Injury Prevention. V12(1). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articlesPMC2563507/

K. Marks, personal communication, May 21, 2013

Ramps, Access. (n.d). Retrieved from http://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Acess_Ramps.htm

The Engineering Design Process was utilized to establish a methodology to design two scale models (three wheel and four wheel) for prototype development and testing. The team used the Lego Mindstorms Educational NXT 2.0 kit for design materials.

Our design focus was centralized to three sensors (touch, light/color, and voice) to enhance the functionality of the “smart chair” prototype in an effort to reduce accidents through obstacle identification, speed control, and balance management. Additionally, to ensure a realistic measure of balance was included in the design process, we calculated the center of gravity (CG) for the “smart chair” prototype to reduce occurrences of “tipping”. We also incorporated the American Disabilities Act (ADA) section 4.8 requirements for ramp design during our prototype testing to ensure safety was promoted.

The prototype testing included both the three wheel and four wheel design scale models to determine which model was the most successful in meeting the needs of design criteria.

 

The four wheel design scale model faired slightly better with overall scaled outcomes. The four wheel design scale model handled obstacle identification, curves, and ramps with success during prototype testing. Additionally, the touch, light/color, and sound sensors were effective to their capability during prototype testing. The four wheel scale model was successful in meeting the needs of the design criteria. Providing resources with technology capabilities is beneficial, to help wheel chair users improve their ability to reduce the number of potential accidents.

A team of Computer Science majors (Dawn Avery, Beruk Edris, Olawale Onafowokan, Olatide Omojaro, and Robert Townsend) were tasked with a unique design problem. The task was determining how to enhance the design of the basic wheel chair prototype utilizing sensors and wheel design. The design problem included time constraints of thirteen days, selection of only three sensors, and two motors.

We designed a “smart chair” prototype utilizing the basic Lego Minstorms NXT Education 2.0 Kit. The prototype is designed to benefit individuals disabled by lower extremity, lower trunk, and/or upper extremity impairments and aide with reducing accidents by enhancing the ease of wheel movement and utilization of sensors to increase the accuracy and timely identification of obstacles.

°Touch Sensor

Light/

Color

Sensor

°

°

Center of

Gravity

7°

•American Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). (2002). Retrieved from http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm•Google Maps. (2013). [Pin Strikes Entertainment Centre, GA] [Street map]. Retrieved from https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl•H. Xiang, A.M. Chany, G.A. Smith. (2006). “Wheel Chair Related Injuries Treated in U.S Emergency Rooms”. Injury Prevention. V12(1). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2563507/•K. Marks, personal communication, May 21, 2013•Ramps, Access. (n.d). Retrieved from http://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Access_Ramps.htm

•American Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). (2002). Retrieved from http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm•Google Maps. (2013). [Pin Strikes Entertainment Centre, GA] [Street map]. Retrieved from https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl•H. Xiang, A.M. Chany, G.A. Smith. (2006). “Wheel Chair Related Injuries Treated in U.S Emergency Rooms”. Injury Prevention. V12(1). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2563507/•K. Marks, personal communication, May 21, 2013•Ramps, Access. (n.d). Retrieved from http://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Access_Ramps.htm

TEST MATRIX DATA

Scale Key3 Wheels PATH A Path with right angled bends

PATH SLOPE DIFFICULTY TOTAL B Path with curved bendsT1 T2 T3 T1 T2 T3 T1 T2 T3 C Path with both right angled & curved bends

A 2 3 3 A 0 2 3 #1 2 2 3B 3 3 3 B 1(S) 2 3 #2 3 3 3C 0 2 3 #3 0 2 3 53 SLOPE A Inclination angle of 7°

B Inclination angle of 20°4 Wheels

PATH SLOPE DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY #1 Obstacle courseT1 T2 T3 T1 T2 T3 T1 T2 T3 #2 Obstacle course with curves

A 3 3 3 A 0 2 3 #1 2 2 3 #3 Obstacle course with curves, & rampsB 3 3 3 B 2 0 2 #2 3 3 3C 0 2 3 #3 1(S) 3 3 54

RESULT 0 Fail (Did not Start)1 Tipped over (B)ack/(F)orward/(S)idways2 Motionless3 Success

WHEEL CONFIG

RESULT RESULT RESULT

RESULT RESULT RESULT