A Wheelchair Usage Monitoring/Logging System

Real life information on wheelchair usage is important for investigating the effectiveness of certain features, evaluate users' performance, and eventually improve the safety and reliability of wheelchairs. The purpose of the study is to develop a wheelchair usage monitoring/logging system that travels with wheelchair users in their daily activity settings and collects data independently. The system consists of a wheel rotation logging module, a GPS logging module, and a seating posture logging module. It obtains data on how far wheelchair users drive, where they have been, and how long they spend in various seating positions. The initial testing results showed that the system can be used as a clinical compliance tool to determine how clients are using their wheelchairs, and if they are effectively using seat features to relieve seating pressure.