Title :
Whole body dampening properties of a wheelchair rider
Author :
VanSickle, D.P. ; Cooper, Rory A. ; Albright, S.J.
Author_Institution :
Human Eng. Res. Lab., Pittsburgh Univ., PA, USA
Abstract :
A model is developed to simulate the whole body dampening properties of a wheelchair rider. This model is based on a 4 pole, 2 zero, transfer function. The order of the model was determined by finding an inflection in the model order verses correlation curves. The model produced correlation between predicted accelerations at the rider´s head and actual accelerations at the rider´s head which averaged 0.84. The poles were found to be located in consistent positions within the unit circle. This transfer function can now be used for the purpose of correlating rider comfort with transmitted and absorbed accelerations without the need for mounting accelerometers on the individual and for quantitatively comparing wheelchair designs
Keywords :
acceleration; biomechanics; damping; handicapped aids; poles and zeros; transfer functions; vibrations; absorbed accelerations; accelerations; correlation curves; model order; rider comfort; rider head; transfer function; transmitted accelerations; unit circle; wheelchair designs; wheelchair rider; whole body dampening properties; Acceleration; Accelerometers; Biological system modeling; Biomedical engineering; Ergonomics; Filters; Frequency; Laboratories; Poles and zeros; Predictive models; Transfer functions; Wheelchairs;
Conference_Titel :
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1994. Engineering Advances: New Opportunities for Biomedical Engineers. Proceedings of the 16th Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Conference_Location :
Baltimore, MD
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-2050-6
DOI :
10.1109/IEMBS.1994.411935
