Effects of wheels and tires on high-strength lightweight wheelchair propulsion cost using a robotic wheelchair tester

Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to investigate the effect of wheel and tire selections on the propulsion characteristics of a high-strength lightweight manual wheelchair using robotic wheelchair propulsion.

Materials and methods

Four configurations were compared with differing combinations of drive wheel tires and casters, with the baseline reflecting the manufacturer configuration of a solid mag drive wheel and 8"×1" caster. The robotic wheelchair tester propelled the chair using pre-generated straight and curvilinear manoeuvres using repeatable and reliable cyclic torque profiles. Additionally, energy loss of the components was measured using coast-down deceleration tests to approximate the system-level rolling resistance of each configuration.

Results

Results indicate a significant decrease in propulsion cost, increased distance travelled and increased manoeuvrability across all configurations, with upgraded casters and tires.

Conclusions

These results indicated that with better casters and drive wheel tires, the performance of high strength lightweight wheelchairs can be improved and better meet the mobility needs of users.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Wheel and tire selection can have a demonstrable impact on the propulsion efficiency of manual wheelchairs

• Coast-down test protocols can be used as a simple and cost-effective means of assessing representative energy losses across various surfaces

• Wheelchair configurations can be optimized with proper knowledge of the main energetic loss contributions and the environments and contexts of use

Keywords:

• Manual wheelchair
• propulsion cost
• energy loss
• rolling resistance
• scrub torque

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), as well as internal funding through the Rehabilitation Engineering and Applied Research (REAR) Laboratory and the School of Industrial Design at Georgia Institute of Technology.