DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF AN ELECTRIC ATTACHMENT FOR PROPELLING A WHEELCHAIR

Abstract

Over the span of the last couple of years, great strides have been made in the domain of assistive technology for the paraplegic community. Several of these advancements pertain to devices energized through various sources such as dry batteries and solar cells and propelled through electric motors. These devices, called power attachments, are used in conjunction with manual wheelchairs to enhance and supplement their mobility while minimizing the energy input from the user. While immense attention has been given to the research and development of such power attachments, few to no attempts have been made at developing these for an inexpensive rate for maximizing the user base of such products. These attachments have a median cost of nearly PKR 0.5 million and are virtually inaccessible to the vast majority of Pakistani populace. This thesis aims to reduce this cost to at least one-tenth of its value and develop a cost-efficient power attachment within the buying power of Pakistani community. The final product of this thesis is a high-speed power attachment capable of being connected to a standard Pakistani wheelchair. This product has a range greater than the major market contenders and a cost lower than them.