Towards the next generation of wheelchair securement--development of a demonstration UDIG-compatible wheelchair docking device.
The main purpose of this study was to demonstrate that an auto-docking device (ADD) could be produced that would meet the requirements for the universal interface contained in the evolving International Standard Organization (ISO10542-3) standard and also meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations within the United States. A secondary purpose was to produce a practical design that directly addressed the most pressing securement deficiencies being experienced by transit users and providers that had promise of transfer to commercial availability. ADD development has demonstrated that a standards-compatible ADD can be produced that meets the rigorous crash test requirements of ISO10542-3. Follow-up in-vehicle testing indicated the need for design refinement in order to prevent movement of an occupied manual wheelchair in excess of the 2-in. maximum requirement stipulated in the 1990 ADA. A user focus group provided feedback on the utility of the overall universal auto-docking concept, as well as guidance for improvement to control interfaces that would be located in the wheelchair and driver stations. The partnership with Kinedyne Inc., a manufacturer of securement devices, provided the industry-based focus that resulted in the cost containment and marketing expertise necessary to make the ADD a viable commercial product.
Hobson
Douglas A
DA
RERC on Wheelchair Transportation Safety, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, & University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. dhobson@pitt.edu
van Roosmalen
Linda
L
D004867:Equipment Design; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D011482:Protective Devices; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012449:Safety; D017751:Safety Management; D012622:Seat Belts; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000639:trends*