Analysis of the usability of rolling resistance measurement methods to study the mechanisms of some wheelchairs

Abstract

Reducing the driving force when propelling a wheelchair, e.g. through mechanical gears, is beneficial for people using wheelchairs. This makes it possible to overcome terrain obstacles that would be otherwise impassable with a classic drive system. However, the disadvantage of additional mechanisms supporting the propulsion of the wheelchair is usually the additional mass, ultimately increasing the rolling resistance. The article presents methods of measuring the rolling resistance – widely developed in the automotive industry – in terms of measuring the rolling resistance of wheelchairs. Innovative methods have been demonstrated to measure the rolling resistance on various surfaces and with the use of various drive mechanisms. The developed methods also enable the determination of the rolling resistance coefficient. The methods used are innovative and are subject to patent protection prepared by the authors in recent years. The results of the respondents allow to compare the measurement accuracy of the developed methods and show that the second method (being a simplification of the first method) is characterized by better accuracy.