Considerations on Selection of Modular Electric Drive for Power-Assist Wheelchair

This paper deals with the problem of design of the electrical drive for assisting powered wheelchair. Types of electrical drives for powered wheelchairs, that are available in the market in most cases have mechanical gearbox, which strongly limits the recuperation of the energy from the electrical machine during, for example, braking. This makes powered wheelchair less effective and increases the weight of the electrical drive, so the use of direct drive in case of assisting powered wheelchair is critical. In order to solve these problems, new modular electrical machine is proposed, which is three phase segmented permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). Design view and schematics of novel electrical machine are proposed in this paper. To predict behavior of a novel modular PMSM, a pilot sample is made on basis of an existing PMSM for bicycle application which is modified by dividing it's stator into segment elements. In order to control electrical drive, power electronics driver is needed.