The research of tension optimal estimation and stair-climbing ability of transformationwheelchair robot

To meet the rapid increasing demand of the equipment assisting the disabled and the old, a novel style transmuting track wheelchair robot is developed. It has the characteristic that the track tension can be determined dynamically. Compared to traditional method that keeps track tension constantly, dynamically determining tension can reduce power consumption obviously. Based on the fact that modeling track tension is complex, a fuzzy logic decision making method is developed to estimate the proportion of various factors that have effect on track tension. Combining with least square method, we get track tension optimal estimation algorithm. Considering the low speed characteristic of the wheelchair as climbing stairs and the track tension got by estimation algorithm, the paper develops a statics model of the wheelchair for the starting stage of stair-climbing. Simulation results prove that the wheelchair can climb stairs stably when it takes advantage of tension estimation algorithm.