Project Overview

SOC Robotics is working with Brad Zdanvisky and others to develop the control electronics and hardware for an Assisted Power Wheelchair. The goal is to create  instrumentation and a control system capable sensing an incline so that motors can delivery the appropriate amount of power to the wheels to maintain the level of physical exersion constant on inclines as on flat level surfaces.

The project will use several existing SOC products such as our Wasp with 3-axis accelerometer, RG30 3-axis rate gyro, digital compass, SAM48 ARM7 processor with USB 2.0, ZB10 Zigbee module and our 6A H bridge PWM driver for the DC motors.  Each wheel will be instrumented with a hall effect rotary sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis rate gyro, ATmega644 processor and Zigbee wireless communications module.  A master controller will be mounted the the seat and will consist of an ARM7 processor, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis rate gyro, digital compass and two motor controllers.

The first prototype is expected to be completed before the end of 2009.  This is a collaboration between SOC Robotics, Brad Zdanvisky and others.  Most of the resulting  technology will be made available as an open source project.

Brad is an avid rock climber.  A video of his climb up the Stawamus Chief in Squamish BC in July 2009 is here BradClimb.mpg.  A video of the test ramp at iCorp in Vancouver is here iCorptest.mpg.

For more information feel free the contact SOC Robotics, Inc.

Brad can be contacted at www.verticalchallenge.org.