Considerations for Vibrations and Impacts of Casters (Case of Electroencephalogram at Wheelchair Boarding)

Abstract

Casters are applied to various products. When casters are used, vibrations and impacts occur due to the influence of the floor surface. Vibrations and impacts are transmitted to the carrier. Vibrations and impacts are a burden on wheelchairs and others using casters. Consider the burden as a physical burden and a mental burden. Heretofore, the physical burden is evaluated by acceleration. However, there is no indication of the mental burden evaluation index. Mental burden is digitized using electroencephalogram (EEG). We propose it as a new evaluation index. Measurement and analysis are performed, and significance is obtained by t-test. Perform fast Fourier transform on the brain waves. From the obtained data, the average value of “the Beta-waves divided by the Alpha-waves” was obtained and used as a new index. The mental burden can be quantified by changing the new indicator.