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Types of Self Control Wheelchairs Many people with disabilities utilize self control wheelchairs to get around. These chairs are great for everyday mobility, and are able to easily climb hills and other obstacles. They also have large rear flat shock absorbent nylon tires. The speed of translation of the wheelchair was determined by using a local potential field approach. Each feature vector was fed to a Gaussian decoder, which output a discrete probability distribution. The evidence that was accumulated was used to generate visual feedback, and an alert was sent after the threshold was reached. Wheelchairs with hand-rims The kind of wheel a wheelchair uses can impact its ability to maneuver and navigate different terrains. Wheels with hand-rims reduce strain on the wrist and improve the comfort of the user. Wheel rims for wheelchairs can be found in aluminum, steel plastic, or other materials. They are also available in a variety of sizes. They can also be coated with vinyl or rubber to provide better grip. Some are designed ergonomically, with features such as an elongated shape that is suited to the user's closed grip and wide surfaces to provide full-hand contact. This allows them distribute pressure more evenly and prevents fingertip pressing. A recent study revealed that flexible hand rims decrease impact forces as well as wrist and finger flexor activity when a wheelchair is being used for propulsion. They also have a greater gripping area than tubular rims that are standard. This lets the user exert less pressure while maintaining the rim's stability and control. They are available at many online retailers and DME providers. The study's results showed that 90% of the respondents who had used the rims were happy with the rims. However it is important to remember that this was a mail survey of people who purchased the hand rims from Three Rivers Holdings and did not necessarily represent all wheelchair users with SCI. The survey also didn't measure the actual changes in pain or symptoms however, it was only a measure of whether individuals perceived an improvement. These rims can be ordered in four different designs which include the light, big, medium and prime. The light is an oblong rim with small diameter, while the oval-shaped large and medium are also available. The rims with the prime have a slightly bigger diameter and a more ergonomically designed gripping area. All of these rims can be placed on the front of the wheelchair and are purchased in a variety of colors, ranging from natural- a light tan color — to flashy blue, pink, red, green, or jet black. They also have quick-release capabilities and are easily removed for cleaning or maintenance. The rims are protected by rubber or vinyl coating to keep hands from sliding off and causing discomfort. Wheelchairs with tongue drive Researchers at Georgia Tech developed a system that allows users of a wheelchair to control other electronic devices and control them by using their tongues. It is comprised of a tiny magnetic tongue stud, which transmits signals for movement to a headset with wireless sensors as well as mobile phones. The smartphone converts the signals into commands that control the wheelchair or any other device. The prototype was tested on able-bodied individuals and in clinical trials with those with spinal cord injuries. To test the performance, a group of able-bodied people performed tasks that assessed input accuracy and speed. They completed tasks based on Fitts law, which included the use of mouse and keyboard, and maze navigation using both the TDS and the standard joystick. A red emergency override stop button was included in the prototype, and a second participant was able to press the button if needed. The TDS performed just as a normal joystick. In a different test in another test, the TDS was compared with the sip and puff system. This lets those with tetraplegia to control their electric wheelchairs by blowing or sucking into a straw. The TDS was able of performing tasks three times faster and with more precision than the sip-and-puff. In fact, the TDS was able to drive a wheelchair more precisely than a person with tetraplegia, who controls their chair using an adapted joystick. The TDS was able to determine tongue position with a precision of less than a millimeter. It also included camera technology that recorded eye movements of an individual to detect and interpret their movements. It also had security features in the software that checked for valid user inputs 20 times per second. Interface modules would stop the wheelchair if they failed to receive a valid direction control signal from the user within 100 milliseconds. The team's next steps include testing the TDS with people with severe disabilities. To conduct these tests, they are partnering with The Shepherd Center, a catastrophic care hospital in Atlanta, and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. They intend to improve their system's ability to handle ambient lighting conditions, and to add additional camera systems and to allow repositioning of seats. Wheelchairs with joysticks With a wheelchair powered with a joystick, users can control their mobility device using their hands, without having to use their arms. It can be placed in the middle of the drive unit or either side. The screen can also be added to provide information to the user. Some screens are large and backlit to make them more visible. Others are small and may contain symbols or pictures to assist the user. The joystick can be adjusted to accommodate different hand sizes and grips and also the distance of the buttons from the center. As the technology for power wheelchairs advanced as it did, clinicians were able develop alternative driver controls that allowed patients to maximize their functional capabilities. These innovations also allow them to do so in a manner that is comfortable for the end user. A normal joystick, for instance is a proportional device that uses the amount of deflection in its gimble to give an output that increases when you push it. This is similar to the way that accelerator pedals or video game controllers function. However this system requires excellent motor control, proprioception and finger strength in order to use it effectively. A tongue drive system is a second kind of control that makes use of the position of a person's mouth to determine the direction in which they should steer. A tongue stud with magnetic properties transmits this information to the headset, which can perform up to six commands. It can be used by individuals who have tetraplegia or quadriplegia. Certain alternative controls are simpler to use than the traditional joystick. This is especially useful for users with limited strength or finger movements. Others can even be operated with just one finger, making them perfect for people who cannot use their hands at all or have limited movement. Additionally, certain control systems have multiple profiles which can be adapted to each client's needs. This is important for novice users who might require adjustments to their settings regularly when they feel fatigued or have a flare-up of a condition. This is helpful for experienced users who want to change the parameters set for a particular area or activity. Wheelchairs that have a steering wheel Self-propelled wheelchairs can be utilized by people who need to move themselves on flat surfaces or up small hills. They come with large rear wheels for the user to grasp while they propel themselves. Hand rims enable the user to use their upper-body strength and mobility to move the wheelchair forward or backward. Self-propelled chairs can be fitted with a range of accessories like seatbelts as well as drop-down armrests. They also come with swing away legrests. Certain models can also be transformed into Attendant Controlled Wheelchairs that can help caregivers and family members drive and operate the wheelchair for those who require more assistance. wheelchair self propelled were affixed to the wheelchairs of the participants to determine kinematic parameters. The sensors monitored movements for a period of the duration of a week. The distances measured by the wheels were determined with the gyroscopic sensors that was mounted on the frame as well as the one mounted on the wheels. To distinguish between straight forward movements and turns, the period of time when the velocity difference between the left and the right wheels were less than 0.05m/s was considered straight. The remaining segments were examined for turns and the reconstructed paths of the wheel were used to calculate the turning angles and radius. A total of 14 participants participated in this study. The participants were tested on navigation accuracy and command latencies. Through an ecological experiment field, they were asked to steer the wheelchair around four different ways. During the navigation trials, the sensors tracked the trajectory of the wheelchair across the entire course. Each trial was repeated at least two times. After each trial participants were asked to choose the direction in which the wheelchair should be moving. The results showed that a majority of participants were able complete the tasks of navigation even though they did not always follow the correct directions. In the average 47% of turns were correctly completed. The other 23% of their turns were either stopped directly after the turn, or wheeled in a later turning turn, or were superseded by another straightforward movement. These results are similar to previous studies.