An electrical power assistance device designed to be removably coupled to existing transport wheelchairs to provide electric power to aid in transportation of a person sitting in the wheelchair, while being detachable to allow the transport chair to fold up for easy storage in a car or other vehicle. The electrical power assistance device includes a motor powered by a rechargeable battery, where the motor drives an internal shaft which rotates a pair of friction wheels. A clutch, provided on a separate axle coupled to the friction wheels by eccentric disks, allows the friction wheels to engage or disengage with the rear wheels of the transport wheelchair.

A chassis structure for an electric power wheelchair adapted for a seat frame to be mounted and supported thereon includes a chassis housing which defines an accommodation space, and an upper cover which covers an upper opened end of the accommodation space. At least one modular raising strip assembly is removably sandwiched between the chassis housing and the upper cover and has a predetermined thickness such that a volume of the accommodation space is increased with the raising strip assembly. With the modular raising strip assembly, the volume of the accommodation space is adjustable according to the battery capacity of a battery pack of a drive unit which is mounted in the accommodation space to meet the user's requirement.

A chassis structure for an electric power wheelchair adapted for a seat frame to be mounted and supported thereon includes a chassis housing which defines an accommodation space, and an upper cover which covers an upper opened end of the accommodation space. At least one modular raising strip assembly is removably sandwiched between the chassis housing and the upper cover and has a predetermined thickness such that a volume of the accommodation space is increased with the raising strip assembly. With the modular raising strip assembly, the volume of the accommodation space is adjustable according to the battery capacity of a battery pack of a drive unit which is mounted in the accommodation space to meet the user's requirement.

A system and method for a motorized mobile chair using a plurality of sensors having a plurality of sensor types to detect a plurality of objects and generate sensor data about the detected objects, each of the detected objects being a person, the sensor data about the objects comprising a plurality of range measurements to the people and a plurality of bearing measurements to the people. The system has at least one processor to receive the sensor data about the people, group the detected people into a plurality of zones, determine a closest person in each zone, and generate one or more control signals to cause the motorized mobile chair to match a speed and a direction of the closest person in the zone corresponding to a direction of travel of the motorized mobile chair while at least approximately maintaining a selected space to the closest person in the zone corresponding to the direction of travel of the motorized mobile chair.

A system and method for a motorized mobile chair using a plurality of sensors having a plurality of sensor types to detect a plurality of objects and generate sensor data about the detected objects, each of the detected objects being a person, the sensor data about the objects comprising a plurality of range measurements to the people and a plurality of bearing measurements to the people. The system has at least one processor to receive the sensor data about the people, group the detected people into a plurality of zones, determine a closest person in each zone, and generate one or more control signals to cause the motorized mobile chair to match a speed and a direction of the closest person in the zone corresponding to a direction of travel of the motorized mobile chair while at least approximately maintaining a selected space to the closest person in the zone corresponding to the direction of travel of the motorized mobile chair.

Embodiments herein are directed to a system that includes a powered wheelchair, a user-worn exoskeleton, and a master controller. The master controller monitors the independent movements of the powered wheelchair and the user-worn exoskeleton. The master controller prioritizes the movement of the powered wheelchair and the user-worn exoskeleton such that only one of the powered wheelchair or the user-worn exoskeleton will have the priority to complete the intended movement. The master controller may coordinate movements between the powered wheelchair and the user-worn exoskeleton so to perform a plurality of predetermined programs. For example, assisting a user to sit within the powered wheelchair, to assist a user to stand from a seating position when outside of the powered wheelchair, and/or use the powered wheelchair as a guide for walking.

Embodiments herein are directed to a system that includes a powered wheelchair, a user-worn exoskeleton, and a master controller. The master controller monitors the independent movements of the powered wheelchair and the user-worn exoskeleton. The master controller prioritizes the movement of the powered wheelchair and the user-worn exoskeleton such that only one of the powered wheelchair or the user-worn exoskeleton will have the priority to complete the intended movement. The master controller may coordinate movements between the powered wheelchair and the user-worn exoskeleton so to perform a plurality of predetermined programs. For example, assisting a user to sit within the powered wheelchair, to assist a user to stand from a seating position when outside of the powered wheelchair, and/or use the powered wheelchair as a guide for walking.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a wheelchair power assist device configured to be installed, uninstalled and exchanged using an exchange tab welded to a wheelchair, and when installed to switch a motorized friction roller between engaged and disengaged modes with a wheelchair wheel, based on an engagement actuator configured to move the friction roller relative to the wheelchair. The friction roller may be operably coupled with an engagement member configured to move relative to the wheelchair. The engagement member may be moved by an extendable and retractable actuator shaft coupled with the wheelchair. A manual wheelchair may be converted to a powered wheelchair using a motorized friction roller for each wheelchair wheel while leaving an open space behind the wheelchair seating area, advantageously permitting the power assist devices to remain attached to a foldable wheelchair in either folded or unfolded configurations.

A travelling apparatus having a high travelling performance with a simple structure is provided. A travelling apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a frame; front wheels disposed in a front of the frame; first links configured to be extendable and retractable and coupled between the front wheels and an oscillation axis located in a rear of the front wheels; and first linear motion mechanisms that are coupled between the frame and the first links and are extended and retracted so as to rotate the first links about the oscillation axis.

A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support structure to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the floor surface to assist users. An actuator is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheel and operable to move the auxiliary wheel relative to the support structure from a retracted position to a deployed position. A user interface sensor is operatively connected to the actuator and configured to generate signals responsive to the user touching the user interface. A controller is operatively coupled to the user interface sensor and the actuator to operate the actuator in response to detection of signals.