STTR Phase I: Robotic mobile computer mount and desk for wheelchairs to enhance the educational experiences of students with disabilities

STTR 第一阶段：机器人移动电脑支架和轮椅书桌，以增强残疾学生的教育体验

• 批准号: 1520098
• 负责人: LiHwa Chong
• 金额: $ 20.41万
• 依托单位: Prehensile Technologies
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-07-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1520098&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Robotic; mobile; computer

This STTR Phase I project focuses on improving the independence and active learning experiences for students with mobility impairments in typical educational environments, including classrooms, libraries, meeting rooms, laboratories, as well as nontraditional settings, such as breakout spaces and conference rooms. Student wheelchair users rely on personal computer technology for accessing assistive technology hardware and software for writing, note and test taking, drawing, accessing digital information, and communicating. Mobile computers provide these essential tasks anywhere they need to be allowing them to be more productive and effective at interacting with their classmates without disabilities during curricular activities. Unfortunately, being able to efficiently retrieve and stow mobile computers is difficult for wheelchair users, particularly for those with upper limb mobility impairments. Current wheelchair computer mounts do not allow students with disabilities to independently use them and access their mobile computers wherever they need to be. The proposed robotic wheelchair platform allows students with disabilities to access a mobile computer and work surface in order to be as productive and self-sufficient as everyone else. This universal access to mobile computing technology allows students with disabilities to more actively participate in practice-based educational activities, including laboratory research, groups study sessions, and science fieldwork.A robotic wheelchair mount for a mobile computer and as a writing surface is developed to enable persons with upper extremity mobility impairments to independently retract and deploy using a single input. This device allows students with disabilities, such as those with traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other conditions, to be able to go underneath desks and tables when desired, to more naturally interact with classmates, have the ability to use a mobile computer or desk anywhere they are, and does not impede transferring in and out of the wheelchair. The design of this device works seamlessly with power wheelchairs with motorized seats that tilt in space, have reclining backrests, movable leg rests, and vertically elevate while not compromising the functions and overall size of the wheelchair. The versatility of this device in how it mounts and is operated by individuals with severe disabilities is superior to traditional fixed mounting systems that require assistance to remove. During this project production-ready devices will be fabricated for human subject testing to assess usability, functionality, reliability, safety, and user satisfaction during the performance of typical educational and daily living activities.

这个STTR第一阶段项目的重点是改善在典型的教育环境中，包括教室，图书馆，会议室，实验室，以及非传统的设置，如突破空间和会议室行动不便的学生的独立性和积极的学习经验。学生轮椅使用者依靠个人计算机技术来访问辅助技术硬件和软件，以进行写作、笔记和考试、绘图、访问数字信息和交流。移动的计算机提供这些必要的任务，他们需要的任何地方，让他们更有成效和有效地与他们的同学互动，没有残疾在课程活动。不幸的是，对于轮椅使用者来说，尤其是对于那些有上肢移动障碍的人来说，能够有效地取回和收起移动的计算机是困难的。目前的轮椅计算机安装不允许残疾学生独立使用它们，并在需要的任何地方访问他们的移动的计算机。拟议的机器人轮椅平台允许残疾学生访问移动的计算机和工作表面，以便像其他人一样高效和自给自足。这种移动的计算技术的普及使残疾学生能够更积极地参与基于实践的教育活动，包括实验室研究、小组学习和科学实地考察。开发了一种用于移动的计算机和作为书写表面的机器人轮椅支架，使上肢行动障碍的人能够使用单一输入独立地缩回和展开。该设备允许残疾学生，如患有创伤性脑和脊髓损伤、脑瘫、多发性硬化症、肌萎缩性侧索硬化症和其他疾病的学生，在需要时能够走到课桌和桌子下面，更自然地与同学互动，能够在任何地方使用移动的计算机或桌子，并且不会妨碍进出轮椅。该设备的设计与电动轮椅无缝配合，电动座椅可在空间中倾斜，具有可倾斜的靠背，可移动的腿托，并可垂直升降，同时不影响轮椅的功能和整体尺寸。该装置在安装和操作方面的多功能性上级传统的固定安装系统，需要帮助才能拆卸。在本项目期间，将制造生产就绪器械，用于人体受试者测试，以评估在典型教育和日常生活活动期间的可用性、功能性、可靠性、安全性和用户满意度。