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

这个STTR第一阶段项目的重点是在典型的教育环境中改善行动障碍学生的独立性和主动学习体验，包括教室、图书馆、会议室、实验室，以及非传统的环境，如分组讨论空间和会议室。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，用于写作，笔记和考试，绘画，访问数字信息和交流。移动电脑在他们需要的任何地方提供这些基本任务，使他们在课程活动中与没有残疾的同学进行更高效和有效的互动。不幸的是，对于轮椅使用者来说，能够有效地检索和存放移动电脑是很困难的，特别是对于那些上肢活动障碍的人。目前的轮椅电脑支架不允许残疾学生独立使用它们，也不允许他们在任何需要的地方访问移动电脑。提议的机器人轮椅平台允许残疾学生使用移动电脑和工作台面，以便像其他人一样高效和自给自足。移动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、小组学习会议和科学实地考察。开发了一种用于移动计算机和作为书写表面的机器人轮椅支架，使上肢活动障碍的人能够使用单个输入独立地收回和部署。该设备允许残疾学生，如那些患有创伤性脑和脊髓损伤、脑瘫、多发性硬化症、肌萎缩侧索硬化症和其他疾病的学生，能够在需要的时候走到课桌下面，更自然地与同学互动，能够在任何地方使用移动电脑或桌子，并且不会妨碍他们进出轮椅。该装置的设计与电动轮椅无缝配合，电动轮椅的座椅可以在空间倾斜，有靠背，可移动的腿托，可以垂直提升，同时不影响轮椅的功能和整体尺寸。这种装置的多功能性在于它是如何安装的，并由严重残疾的个人操作，优于传统的固定安装系统，需要协助拆除。在这个项目中，生产就绪的设备将被制造出来进行人体测试，以评估在典型的教育和日常生活活动中的可用性、功能、可靠性、安全性和用户满意度。

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.