IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - December 2017 - 26
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Increasing Personal
Mobility with a Powered
Wheel-Track Hybrid Wheelchair
All-Terrain Wheelchair
By Janez Podobnik, Jure Rejc, Sebastjan Šlajpah, Marko Munih, and Matjaž Mihelj
S
tate-of-the-art technologies empower people with
motor disabilities to carry out activities of daily
living, thus enabling a better quality of life.
Personal mobility is crucial for the well-being of
individuals with motor impairments. In fact,
studies have shown that, among people with motor
disabilities, those having better mobility report greater
satisfaction with their quality of life than those having
lower mobility [1]-[3]. Motor functions can be improved,
recovered, or partially substituted with various robot-based
technologies, such as robotic prostheses, exoskeletons, and
electric wheelchairs. Robotic wheelchairs allow those with
motor disabilities practical and efficient electric mobility.
A team of students and mentors from the University of
Ljubljana, Slovenia, developed the concept and prototype for
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MRA.2017.2746182
Date of publication: 3 November 2017
26
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IEEE ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION MAGAZINE
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DECEMBER 2017
a hybrid robotic wheelchair that allows the user to traverse
obstacles, such as stairs and ramps commonly found in urban
and rural environments, by utilizing both wheeled and
tracked propulsion. Additionally, the team's prototype incorporates a wheel-drive system designed for enhanced maneuverability in indoor spaces. The prototype was put to test at
the Cybathlon, a competition that promotes the development
of advanced robotic devices for people with disabilities, in
2016. The team from the University of Ljubljana successfully
finished the competition, winning a bronze medal in the
powered wheelchair race.
While lost lower limb functions can sometimes be
restored with intensive rehabilitation, wheelchairs are often
the only practical means of transportation for disabled people who find it difficult or are unable to walk. The fundamental role of wheelchairs is to improve the mobility of
users, thus enhancing their ability to participate in activities
of daily life [4]. Because it is important for people with
1070-9932/17©2017IEEE
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - December 2017
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IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - December 2017 - Cover3
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