Handwheelchair.q: New Prototype of Manual Wheelchair for Everyday Life

Abstract

In this paper the second prototype of a manual wheelchair, named Handwheelchair.q, is presented. Handwheelchair.q is a manual wheelchair with an innovative system of propulsion inspired by a rowing gesture which has been made possible employing a cable for the motion transmission to a special freewheel connected to the wheel. As a result this gesture generates a traction force on the shoulder instead of the compression force generated by the gesture with the hand-rim system. The main goal of the innovative prototype is to increase the mobility of the disabled people reducing the stress on shoulder employing a conventional manual wheelchair. The functional design and the prototype are presented. Moreover, the methods and the results of preliminary tests are described and discussed. The tests aim to evaluate the traction force and the efficiency of the prototype.