Difference between revisions of "Main Page"
From WhimWiki A Wheelchair That Makes Sense
(→This is not your Grandmother's wheelchair) |
(New design concept - Suspension) |
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''We put the '''WHEE!''' in Wheelchair!'' | ''We put the '''WHEE!''' in Wheelchair!'' | ||
| − | =NEWS | + | =NEW NEWS :-)= |
| − | + | After a bit of a break, we're back! | |
| + | |||
| + | One of our earliest contributors has returned, and is now ''teaching'' engineering at UC Davis. He was kind enough to inform us of an opportunity with their Capstone Design Course; we submitted our proposal, and were approved as "a suitable project for a team of our engineering students to tackle." We'll have a few students working on the WHIM chair, with the goal of a working prototype by the end of the class! | ||
=Our Mission= | =Our Mission= | ||
| − | + | To design, build, and publish plans for a power wheelchair, utilizing parts which are readily available, non-proprietary, low-cost, dependable, user maintainable, and adaptable. | |
==What does this mean?== | ==What does this mean?== | ||
| − | WHIM Unlimited has a goal to design a power wheelchair which can be '''built''', '''customized''', and '''repaired''' using '''local resources''', ''with a minimum of customized parts''. We will then prove and refine the design by building the chair, and finally publish the designs, software and notes on a website, for anyone to use. The designs will be freely available for all. | + | WHIM Unlimited has a goal to design a power wheelchair which can be [[Owners_Manifesto|'''built''', '''customized''', and '''repaired''']] using '''local resources''', ''with a minimum of customized parts''. We will then prove and refine the design by building the chair, and finally publish the designs, software and notes on a website, for anyone to use. The designs will be freely available for all. |
WHIM Unlimited is researching potential power wheelchair designs using common components found in your local hardware, bicycle, and automotive parts store. Our intention is for a finished product which can be built by anyone with some [[wikipedia:DIY|DIY]] experience - if you can use a wrench and a screwdriver, you should be able to build and maintain one of these chairs. | WHIM Unlimited is researching potential power wheelchair designs using common components found in your local hardware, bicycle, and automotive parts store. Our intention is for a finished product which can be built by anyone with some [[wikipedia:DIY|DIY]] experience - if you can use a wrench and a screwdriver, you should be able to build and maintain one of these chairs. | ||
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We're working with local engineers and other experts to find some potential answers. We realize that there is not going to be one answer for everyone, however we feel that we can help make the choices easier. We have already identified some components which may need to be customized (particularly the motor-wheel interface), but are working to keep these to a minimum, and are planning to provide plans for these so that they can be manufactured at a local facility. | We're working with local engineers and other experts to find some potential answers. We realize that there is not going to be one answer for everyone, however we feel that we can help make the choices easier. We have already identified some components which may need to be customized (particularly the motor-wheel interface), but are working to keep these to a minimum, and are planning to provide plans for these so that they can be manufactured at a local facility. | ||
| − | For more information, see our [[About WHIM]] page. Or check out the original [[Request for Assistance]] email, sent in November, 2011. | + | For more information, see our [[About WHIM]] page. Or check out the original [[Request for Assistance]] email, sent in November, 2011. And for the proper attitude, check out some of the Bloom County [[Comics|links]] . |
==Why are we doing this?== | ==Why are we doing this?== | ||
| − | Wheelchair maintenance is problematic, at best. Parts are available from limited sources, usually medical supply specialists. If you're using insurance to get the chair fixed, then often a prescription is required even for simple fixes. | + | Wheelchair maintenance is problematic, at best. Parts are available from limited sources, usually medical supply specialists. If you're using insurance to get the chair fixed, then often a prescription is required even for simple fixes (including flats!?). |
That means, if something breaks, you need to | That means, if something breaks, you need to | ||
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**Schedule another appointment with the repair shop and the van once the part comes in (another 1-3 weeks) | **Schedule another appointment with the repair shop and the van once the part comes in (another 1-3 weeks) | ||
**Wait in the shop again while they fix the problem (several more hours sitting in their waiting room, still without access to a functioning chair) | **Wait in the shop again while they fix the problem (several more hours sitting in their waiting room, still without access to a functioning chair) | ||
| − | *And finally head back home with a working chair | + | *And finally head back home with a working chair. Maybe. |
| − | In our experience, this can take up to 2 months or more, depending on the issue. It can be worse if there are no local wheelchair repair shops. | + | In our [[experience]], this can take up to 2 months or more, depending on the issue. It can be worse if there are no local wheelchair repair shops. |
If you're not using insurance, it might be quicker, however the costs associated can be quite high. US$10,000+ for the initial chair, $200+ for a single battery (you generally need 2), $400 for an seat cushion, and so on. | If you're not using insurance, it might be quicker, however the costs associated can be quite high. US$10,000+ for the initial chair, $200+ for a single battery (you generally need 2), $400 for an seat cushion, and so on. | ||
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We've broken the chair down to its component pieces, examined how they relate to each other, and what we'd like to be able to do. | We've broken the chair down to its component pieces, examined how they relate to each other, and what we'd like to be able to do. | ||
| − | *[[Wheels]] - | + | *[[Wheels]] - Rolling Down the Highways |
*[[Motors]] - Moving Forward (or Backward) | *[[Motors]] - Moving Forward (or Backward) | ||
*[[Frame]] - Something to Build on | *[[Frame]] - Something to Build on | ||
| + | *[[Suspension]] - Suspend Your Disbelief | ||
*[[Controllers]] - Keeping Control | *[[Controllers]] - Keeping Control | ||
*[[Batteries and Chargers]] - Power to the People! | *[[Batteries and Chargers]] - Power to the People! | ||
