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Abstract
As an autonomic and convenient assistance device for people with disabilities and the elderly climbing up and down stairs,
electric-powered wheelchairs with stair-climbing ability have attracted great attention in the past two decades and some
various electric-powered wheelchairs with stair-climbing were developed. By using the developed electric-powered
wheelchairs with stair-climbing, many patients with walking difficulties are able to descend the stairs conveniently to
participate in outdoor activities, which are beneficial to both their physical rehabilitation and mental health. In this article, a
review of electric-powered wheelchair with stair-climbing current technology is given and its future tendency is discussed
to inform electric-powered wheelchair with stair-climbing researchers in the development of more applicable and popular
products. Firstly, the development history is reviewed and electric-powered wheelchairs with stair-climbing are classified
based on an analysis of their stair-climbing mechanisms. The respective advantages and disadvantages of different types of
electric-powered wheelchairs with stair-climbing are outlined for an overall comparison of the control method, cost of
mechanical manufacture, energy consumption, and adaption to different stairs. Insights into the future direction of stability
during stair-climbing are discussed as it is an important aspect common to all electric-powered wheelchairs with stair-
climbing. Finally, a summary of electric-powered wheelchairs with stair-climbing discussed in this article is provided. As a
special review to the electric-powered wheelchairs with stair-climbing, it can provide a comprehensive understanding of
the current technology about electric-powered wheelchairs with stair-climbing and serve as a reference for the
development of new electric-powered wheelchairs with stair-climbing.
Keywords
Electric-powered wheelchair, stair-climbing mechanism, control method, stability evaluation
Introduction
As an important mobility assistance device for aged and 1
School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and
physically disabled people, electric-powered wheelchairs Technology, Nanjing, China
(EPWs) have been widely used for many years. Nowadays, 2
State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College
many patients and users utilize EPWs as their primary of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
means of mobility during indoor and outdoor daily activi-
ties.1,2 However, it is still a challenging task for a standard Corresponding author:
Tao Liu, State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems,
EPW to overcome the existing environmental barriers such College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, 310027
as the building or civil infrastructure stairs.3 Especially for Hangzhou, China.
some patients living in a building without an elevator, it is Email: liutao@zju.edu.cn
Creative Commons CC BY: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
(http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without
further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/
open-access-at-sage).
2 International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems
using legs and feet to walk on various steps facilitat- According to Table 1, we can see that track-based
ing efficient and stable stair-climbing. EPW-SCs have attracted the most attention from research-
Hybrid stair-climbing mechanism: This type of stair- ers since the 1990s, followed by the wheel cluster–based
climbing mechanism uses a combination of a special EPW-SCs with a variety of prototypes and several com-
deformation mechanism and a wheeled mobile mercialized products. Leg-based EPW-SCs had less proto-
mechanism and is defined in this article as a hybrid types and commercialized products, and hybrid EPW-SCs
stair-climbing mechanism. It has an innovative and are the least studied. It can also be seen that the track-based
more complex mechanical structure and control EPW-SCs were developed the earliest and in the last two
method. decades have been the main concern of researchers. Con-
cern from researchers and product application of the leg-
Based on the understanding and analysis of working based EPW-SCs and hybrid EPW-SCs are substantially
principles and characteristics, EPW-SCs developed in the lower than the other two types of EPW-SCs. Considering
past two decades and their stair-climbing mechanisms that the development of these four categories of wheel-
are listed in Table 1. This enables further study of the chairs should have a direct relationship with their respec-
occurrence of different stair-climbing mechanisms and tive performance and characteristics, in the next section,
observation of their developmental trends. the current technology of each category will be analyzed
4 International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems
Figure 10. Leg-based EPW-SCs. (a) WL-16 II. (b) I-foot. (c) Zero Carrier. EPW-SC: electric-powered wheelchairs with stair-climbing.
positioning and climbing on the stairs separately,41 as can only be applied in this hybrid EPW-SC. Although these
shown in Figure 12. hybrid EPW-SCs have been greatly innovative, they have
Morales et al. studied hybrid EPW-SC stair adaptive con- larger sizes and greater difficulty in stair-climbing stability
trol, obstacle surpassing, and posture control and proposed compared with other EPW-SCs.
the stability control method based on the kinematic model
and climbing strategies.70 These were further incorporated
with the dynamic model into the feedback control. A control Comparison of various types of EPW-SCs
system based on the Stair-Climbing Mobility Systems Each stair-climbing mechanism has its own characteristics
(SCMS) transition diagram and a linear Proportion Deriva- and advantages. From a practical point of view, the track-
tion (PD) action with a nonlinear compensation of gravita- based and wheel cluster–based mechanisms are widely
tional terms was then proposed to accomplish the dynamic accepted by the users in terms of cost, size, and stability.
control for stair-climbing.71–73 These control methods were However, a novel stair-climbing mechanism still needs to
mainly designed to let the stair-climbing mechanism be developed, and currently some researchers and compa-
accurately reach the appropriate stair, and, therefore, they nies have started to focus on new methods of control,
8 International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems
overturning moment are the main factors in determining Stair-climbing stability evaluation and prediction
whether or not the EPW-SC is going to tip over. The auto-
In order to prevent tip over of EPW-SCs in stair-climbing,
matic adjustment of seat posture is also a dynamic position
it is necessary for the researchers to provide some safety
adjustment to the rider’s COG. Therefore, it is necessary to
precautions through mechanism design and control strat-
give sufficient consideration to the possible COG positions
egy. On the other hand, the EPW-SCs also need to com-
of the EPW-SC and rider in the stair-climbing mechanism
bine the latest sensor technology and stability evaluation
design and seat position determination. The iBOT series
methods to perform real-time analysis and detection on
EPW-SCs performed the feedback control to its COG posi-
stair-climbing stability. This can be used to predict possi-
tion similar to the inverted pendulum control and laid a
ble tip over and immediately trigger the protection
foundation of stable stair-climbing.20,78
mechanism. There are few studies in which an evaluation
In the aspect of stability analysis and evaluation, Fang
method of the EPW-SC’s stability in stair-climbing was
et al. analyzed the stair-climbing stability of their wheel
proposed53 or the real-time monitoring of the EPW-SC’s
cluster–based EPW-SC and gave a simulation verification
stability and feedback to the motion control was
based on the usage of stability margin and the position
applied.3,12 A fuzzy model-based gravity center adjust-
analysis of the COG’s projection point in the support
ment and inclination control method for EPW-SCs was
polygon.4 Yu et al. proposed a tip over and slippage sta-
proposed and verified by simulation and experiments by
bility criterion for a variable geometry single-tracked
Wang et al. This method can efficiently compensate for
EPW-SC based on the geometric model, the static model,
the changing of the gravity center to prevent the EPW-
and the track–stair interaction analysis, for partial
SC’s tip over.80 From the intelligence and security of
tracked-based EPW-SCs.5,79
EPW-SCs, a main development trend of stair-climbing
Once tip over has occurred during the process of stair
stability is the automatic evaluation, prediction, and
climbing, it can be very dangerous and cause personal
adjustment methods of stair-climbing stability.
injury to the rider. Therefore, analysis on stair-climbing
stability is very important. From reviewing existing stair-
climbing stability and related results, it was deemed nec-
essary to further study prediction and assessment methods Control system and intelligent control algorithms
on stability and to provide the auxiliary safety protection For the EPW-SC, the adopted control system is determined
before stability problems occur. according to its stair-climbing mechanism. The control sys-
tem of various types of EPW-SCs may be largely different,
but their main purpose in ensuring the stability and safety
Development trend of EPW-SC of stair-climbing is common. As a result, the control sys-
tems embedded stability evaluation, prediction, and adjust-
Due to the low cost and high spatial efficiency of staircases ment should be the future development trend.
when connecting areas of differing vertical elevations, the In addition, the development of the autonomous naviga-
presence of stairs will most likely be a reality in our society tion technology, self-positioning algorithm, and intelligent
for the next several decades. EPW-SCs designed for the control algorithm in the field of robotics are likely applied
elderly and persons with disabilities still need improve- to EPW-SCs. To many elderly persons and persons with
ments to meet the wider range of demands for future use. disabilities, future EPW-SCs will not only be a tool to aid in
After the review of the existing EPW-SC technology and stair-climbing, but could also be developed as an intelligent
common EPWs, the current situation and trend of EPW- system providing entertainment, communication, and other
SCs will be discussed. service functions.
Low cost, lightweight, and high adaptability Operation mode and human–machine interface
of EPW-SC technology
The existing EPW-SC products can meet the basic func- The rocker operation mode was adopted in most of the
tional demands of the users, but there is a need to lower the existing EPW-SCs, by which the user can realize the con-
cost and the weight for affordability. The complexity and trol to the EPW-SC based on a correct rocker operation. A
cost of an EPW-SC is often determined by its mechanical new type of EPW-SC has been equipped with a wheelchair
structure. Therefore, it is necessary that related innovative status display, which can facilitate use and improve the
design and optimization is performed on stair-climbing correction and safety in their rocker operation. Because
mechanism. Moreover, better adaption to various sizes of some users of EPW-SCs are not able to use the operating
stairs should be considered by the EPW developer. Once handle, user-friendly human–machine technologies, such
these improvements are obtained, the EPW-SC will be as brain machine interfaces,81 language interfaces, and
more widely favored and attract broader interest. other intelligent human–machine interfaces, are needed to
10 International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems
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Acknowledgment pendulum type robotic wheelchair with integrated control of
The financial support from National Natural Science Foundation seat slider and rotary link between wheels for climbing stairs.
of China (NSFC) and Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science In: Proceedings of the IEEE international workshop on
Foundation of China are gratefully acknowledged. advanced robotics and its social impacts, Evanston, IL, USA,
11–13 September 2014, pp. 121–126. Washington DC, USA:
Declaration of conflicting interests
IEEE Computer Society.
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with 11. Sugahara Y, Ohta A, Hashimoto K, et al. Walking up and
respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this
down stairs carrying a human by a biped locomotor with
article.
parallel mechanism. In: Proceedings of the IEEE/RSJ inter-
Funding national conference on intelligent robots and systems (IROS
2005), Alberta, Canada, 2–6 August 2005, pp. 1489–1494.
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support
for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This Piscataway, NJ, USA: IEEE Computer Society.
work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foun- 12. Bang YB, Lee CH, Yoo JH, et al. Two-legged stair-climbing
dation of China (NSFC) under grant nos 51275244, 61428304 and wheelchair and its stair dimension measurement using distance
Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China under sensors. In: Proceedings of the 11th international conference
grant no. LR15E050002. on control, automation and systems (ICCAS), Gyeonggi-do,
Republic of Korea, 26–29 October 2011, pp. 1788–1791.
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