Safe emergency evacuation is vital in situations with large crowds, and many large spaces do not offer viable options for wheelchair users if the elevators are unable to be used. Especially in situations with power-outages, evacuation without elevator use is imperative. Typically, this involves intensive labor from a caregiver to carry their patient out safely. The IEEE Fort Wayne Section worked with Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities to create an emergency evacuation system for wheelchair users without needing to rely on the strength and ability of the caregiver.
The idea behind the project is a mechanism that allows wheelchair users to, with the assistance of a caretaker, go downstairs and safely exit the area. The system has mechanical components, electric and electronic components, and navigation and control systems. The mechanical components include automatic brakes, steering systems, transmission mechanisms, and loading/unloading mechanisms. The electronic components include power supplies, assistive controllers, stair detecting and Gyroscope sensors. Finally, the navigation and control systems include embedded micro-controllers, graphic user interfaces, and other smart things to enable IoT navigations.
The projected lifespan of the system is about 10 years, with hopes that the design can spread and help people in communities worldwide.
This project was given a grant of $4,400 as part of EPICS at IEEE’s Access and Abilities Competition.