Portable economical adaptive electrical wheelchair design

• Main Author: Ho, Shu Chang
• Other Authors: Gwee Bah Hwee
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/70750
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The electrical wheelchair was introduced and invented as early as after World War II, it is an important tool for users who are unable or find it difficult to use a manual wheelchair. It is not just limited to this type of users only, rather handicapped people with mobility, fatigue, cardio logical or other medical conditions may tap on the effectiveness of the electrical wheelchair in these types of situation. With the increase in the cost of living and inflation, there is a growing demand for economical and affordable electrical wheelchairs which are able to meet the basic needs without compromising on the safety and convenience of the consumer. The motor used were two brushless DC motors because they are readily available and affordable. Furthermore they have various advantages such as better efficiency and longer lifetime as compared to the normal brushed motor. The batteries used to power the wheelchair are two lithium polymer batteries. They are used because they provide higher energy density and are lightweight. However one of the main disadvantages is its safety issues such as overcharging, discharging and over temperature. Therefore in the second phase of the project, a battery management system is implemented to specifically counter this safety issues to prevent the battery from operating outside its safe zone, and hence not compromising on the safety of the user.