Development of electric wheelchair with operational force detecting interface for persons with Becker's muscular dystrophy

Abstract

Even if some adjustment is provided, it is still harder for disabled people to use the joystick to operate the wheelchair although they can move their bodies. There is considerable difference in disabled characteristics among individuals. To deal with this difficulty, clarifying each person's characteristics and understanding one's individual characteristics are important issues for the proposal of their operation systems. This paper aims to propose the new operation interface, which generates no stress in operation, considering the physical characteristics among those who feel difficulty in operating with joystick. The subject for system validation is set to be a man who has Becker's muscular dystrophy as patient. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.