Study of lever drive wheelchair propulsion model in terms of energy usage

Abstract

This study presents the results of the analysis of the energy properties of a manual wheelchair model. Modeling, simulation and validation techniques were used. Parameters of the model were identified on the technical assumptions and dynamic identification. The measurement data has been divided into training and testing data. The training data were used for dynamic identification of the brake torque and the kinematic transmission ratio of the reduction gears. The testing data were used to check the accuracy of the model. The model has been implemented in the Matlab-Simulink environment. The energy efficiency characteristics of the lever drive wheelchair propulsion were presented as results of the work. The study includes the following research stages: (1) Execution of a series of measurements in the research environment, (2) Developing a nomnal and mathematical model of the stand (3) Identification of the model parameters (4) Implementation of the model in a programming environment (5) Model verification and validation (6) Carrying out the calculations of energy parameters including instantaneous efficiency and energetic efficiency of the work cycle. The study presents and proves the thesis that the developed model generates the course of state variables in a manner consistent with the obtained measurements results.