An Electric-Assist Off-Road Wheelchair

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The goal of this research is to open the great outdoors to people with physical disabilities. We plan to integratean electric-assist propulsion system into an existing manually-driven, off-road wheelchair to make it possiblefor paraplegic and quadriplegic "riders" to explore and enjoy challenging terrain, in the way that able-bodiedhikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers do. This proposal transposes emergent technologies developedprimarily for the electric bicycle (e-bike) market into the comparatively underserved assistive mobility space.We will develop prototypes for a new and innovative electric-assist, off-road wheelchair that will serve theunmet need for outdoor adventuring within the disabled community, and could also be used in mountainrescue. It will significantly enhance the capability of the existing, manually-driven wheelchair by expanding thetypes of terrain accessible to disabled riders and their assistants. The proposed research will encourage activecollaboration between industry, academia, environmentalists, adventurers, and the disabled community. It willenhances Canada's reputation for being a nation that takes seriously the quality of the lives of its less fortunatecitizens.