problem and goal
Problem Statement: An individual with a brain injury has difficulty navigating their home in a manual wheelchair due to impaired vision.
Goal: The goal of this project is to design an attachable device for a wheelchair that allows a client with a visual impairment to navigate
their home with increased safety and ease.
design approach and prototype
Design Approach: For our design approach we decided to look at two main sensors, sonar and LiDAR. Sonar sensors would allow for obstacle
detection within a specified range and would sense for dips in the floor, and LiDAR which would allow for detection of larger objects such
as walls. Originally we were deciding between using either sonar or LiDAR sensors, but in the end, we decided that a combination would end
up working the best.
Prototype: For our prototype, two sonar sensors were connected to the foot rest of the wheelchair and wired to two bracelets, one on the
right hand and one on the left, which would cause a vibration whenever the user got close to a specific object. The placement of the sonar
sensor is able to be adjusted based on whatever wheelchair it is on. The LiDAR sensor is attached to the top of the wheelchair (as pictured
to the left) with two metal rods and 3-D printed parts that allow for it to rest easily on the handlebars of the wheelchair without harming
them. Below I have attached some images of the original sketches of our designs as well as how they turned out.
