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Types of Self Control Wheelchairs Many people with disabilities utilize self-controlled wheelchairs to get around. These chairs are ideal for daily mobility and can easily overcome obstacles and hills. They also have large rear shock-absorbing nylon tires that are flat-free. The velocity of translation for the wheelchair was measured using a local field potential approach. Each feature vector was fed into a Gaussian decoder that outputs a discrete probability distribution. The accumulated evidence was used to drive the visual feedback and a command was sent when the threshold was attained. Wheelchairs with hand-rims The type of wheel that a wheelchair uses can impact its ability to maneuver and navigate different terrains. Wheels with hand-rims reduce wrist strain and improve the comfort of the user. Wheel rims for wheelchairs are available in steel, aluminum, plastic or other materials. They also come in various sizes. They can be coated with vinyl or rubber to provide better grip. Some have ergonomic features, such as being shaped to fit the user's natural closed grip and wide surfaces for all-hand contact. This allows them to distribute pressure more evenly and reduce fingertip pressure. Recent research has demonstrated that flexible hand rims reduce the impact forces, wrist and finger flexor activities in wheelchair propulsion. They also offer a wider gripping surface than tubular rims that are standard, which allows the user to use less force while maintaining excellent push-rim stability and control. These rims are available at a wide range of online retailers as well as DME suppliers. The study's findings revealed that 90% of those who used the rims were happy with them. However it is important to note that this was a postal survey of people who had purchased the hand rims from Three Rivers Holdings and did not necessarily reflect all wheelchair users who have SCI. The survey did not assess any actual changes in the level of pain or other symptoms. It only assessed whether people perceived a difference. Four different models are available including the large, medium and light. The light is round rim that has smaller diameter, and the oval-shaped large and medium are also available. The rims that are prime have a slightly bigger diameter and a more ergonomically designed gripping area. The rims are placed on the front of the wheelchair and are purchased in various shades, from naturalwhich is a light tan shade -to flashy blue, red, green, or jet black. They are also quick-release and can be easily removed to clean or for maintenance. The rims are protected by rubber or vinyl coating to prevent the hands from slipping and causing discomfort. Wheelchairs with tongue drive Researchers at Georgia Tech developed a system that allows people who use wheelchairs to control other electronic devices and control them by using their tongues. It is comprised of a tiny magnetic tongue stud that transmits signals from movement to a headset that has wireless sensors as well as the mobile phone. The phone converts the signals to commands that control the device, such as a wheelchair. The prototype was tested with disabled people and spinal cord injury patients in clinical trials. To test the performance of this system it was tested by a group of able-bodied individuals used it to perform tasks that tested input speed and accuracy. Fittslaw was utilized to complete tasks such as keyboard and mouse use, and maze navigation using both the TDS joystick as well as the standard joystick. A red emergency override stop button was included in the prototype, and a second participant was able to press the button when needed. The TDS worked just as well as the normal joystick. Another test compared the TDS against the sip-and puff system, which allows those with tetraplegia to control their electric wheelchairs by blowing air through a straw. The TDS was able to complete tasks three times faster, and with greater accuracy than the sip-and puff system. The TDS is able to drive wheelchairs more precisely than a person suffering from Tetraplegia, who controls their chair using the joystick. The TDS could track the position of the tongue with a precision of less than one millimeter. It also had a camera system that captured a person's eye movements to identify and interpret their movements. Software safety features were also included, which verified valid user inputs twenty times per second. If a valid user signal for UI direction control was not received for 100 milliseconds, the interface modules automatically stopped the wheelchair. The next step is testing the TDS with people with severe disabilities. To conduct these trials they have formed a partnership with The Shepherd Center, a catastrophic health center in Atlanta and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. They plan to improve their system's tolerance for ambient lighting conditions, to add additional camera systems and to allow repositioning of seats. Wheelchairs with joysticks A power wheelchair equipped with a joystick allows users to control their mobility device without relying on their arms. It can be mounted either in the middle of the drive unit or on either side. The screen can also be used to provide information to the user. Some screens have a large screen and are backlit for better visibility. Some screens are smaller and others may contain pictures or symbols that can help the user. The joystick can be adjusted to fit different sizes of hands and grips and also the distance of the buttons from the center. As technology for power wheelchairs has advanced, clinicians have been able develop and modify alternative driver controls to enable patients to maximize their ongoing functional potential. These advancements also allow them to do so in a manner that is comfortable for the end user. For instance, a typical joystick is an input device that uses the amount of deflection that is applied to its gimble to provide an output that increases with force. This is similar to how video game controllers or accelerator pedals for cars function. However, this system requires good motor control, proprioception and finger strength to be used effectively. A tongue drive system is a different type of control that uses the position of the user's mouth to determine which direction in which they should steer. A magnetic tongue stud sends this information to the headset, which can perform up to six commands. It can be used by those with tetraplegia or quadriplegia. Some alternative controls are easier to use than the standard joystick. This is especially useful for people with limited strength or finger movements. Some of them can be operated by a single finger, making them ideal for people who cannot use their hands at all or have limited movement in them. Additionally, certain control systems have multiple profiles that can be customized to meet the needs of each user. This is essential for novice users who might need to adjust the settings regularly when they are feeling tired or have a flare-up of a disease. It is also useful for an experienced user who needs to alter the parameters set up for a specific location or activity. Wheelchairs with steering wheels Self-propelled wheelchairs are designed to accommodate people who require to move themselves on flat surfaces and up small hills. They feature large wheels on the rear that allow the user's grip to propel themselves. They also have hand rims that allow the user to utilize their upper body strength and mobility to steer the wheelchair forward or backward direction. Self-propelled chairs are able to be fitted with a variety of accessories, including seatbelts and drop-down armrests. They can also have legrests that swing away. Some models can be converted into Attendant Controlled Wheelchairs, which allow family members and caregivers to drive and control wheelchairs for users who require more assistance. Three wearable sensors were affixed to the wheelchairs of participants in order to determine the kinematic parameters. These sensors tracked movement for a week. self propelled wheelchairs lightweight that were mounted on the wheels and fixed to the frame were used to determine the distances and directions that were measured by the wheel. To distinguish between straight forward movements and turns, the period of time during which the velocity differences between the left and right wheels were less than 0.05m/s was considered to be straight. Turns were then investigated in the remaining segments and the turning angles and radii were calculated from the wheeled path that was reconstructed. The study included 14 participants. Participants were tested on navigation accuracy and command time. They were asked to maneuver in a wheelchair across four different waypoints on an ecological experimental field. During navigation trials, sensors tracked the wheelchair's path throughout the entire route. Each trial was repeated at least twice. After each trial, participants were asked to pick a direction for the wheelchair to move in. The results showed that the majority of participants were able to complete the tasks of navigation even though they did not always follow the correct direction. In the average 47% of turns were completed correctly. The remaining 23% their turns were either stopped immediately after the turn, or wheeled in a subsequent turn, or were superseded by another straightforward movement. These results are similar to those of previous research.