Design of a cellular-enabled data-logging system for wheelchair use characterization

Adoption rates and performance metrics of wheelchairs in low-resource settings are thought to vary significantly based on the type of wheelchair distributed and after-sales services provided. Several organizations have been innovating on low-cost wheelchairs, developing ruggedized designs to better withstand off-road usage. The benefits provided by these wheelchairs, however, have been difficult to measure using traditional approaches and there is a lack of data on the actual conditions these wheelchairs are subjected to in use. In this paper, we present the design of a frame-based and a wheel-based cellular-enabled data-logging system and the associated sensor sampling algorithms to characterize the usage and performance of wheelchairs. The system measures forces and loading on the wheelchair, differentiates between rider self-propulsion or attendant-propulsion, and characterizes wheelchair usage bouts by length, speed, and incline. Using this system, we can collect data on prolonged usage from users in remote regions over a period of 2–4 weeks to understand and differentiate the impact from various improved wheelchair models.