Muscle reflection human computer model in wheelchairs traveling in motor vehicles

Abstract

In this study, a human motion computer model in a wheelchair was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of a seatbelt for disabled people traveling in a motor vehicle. The human model was composed of two rigid links and three masses. This model was characterized with muscle reflection defined by Hill's equation. A sudden stop experiment by using a carriage on which a wheelchair was fixed with a subject was performed to obtain the human muscle parameters and to evaluate the model. Volunteer subjects including disabled people participated in the experiment. The motion and muscle activity of a subject wearing a seatbelt were simulated by this model. The muscle reflection of disabled people was stronger than that of normal people in the case of not using a seatbelt, but in the case of using a seatbelt the muscle reflection of disabled people was similarly weak with normal people. The result of computer simulation showed that a seatbelt is more important for disabled people than for normal people.