title: Wheelchair-mounted robotic arm to hold and move a communication device - final design.
abstract: At the 51st Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium we presented a preliminary design for a robotic arm to assist an individual living within an assistive technology smart home. The individual controls much of their environment with a Dynavox Maestro communication device. However, the device obstructs the individuals line of site when navigating about the smart home. A robotic arm was developed to move the communication device in and out of the users field of view as desired. The robotic arm is controlled by a conveniently mounted jelly switch. The jelly switch sends control signals to a four state (up, off, down, off) single-axis robotic arm interfaced to a DC motor by high power electronic relays. This paper describes the system, control circuitry, and multiple safety features. The arm will be delivered for use later in 2015.
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie,WY.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurley
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brauchie
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barrett