Kayla Rowell
Pronouns: She/Her
Research Mentor(s): Kathleen Klinich, Associate Research Scientist
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Transportation Research Institute, College of Engineering
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 6 (4pm-4:50pm)
Breakout Room: Room 17
Presenter: 2
Abstract
To develop integrated wheelchair seating stations for automated vehicles (AVs), manufacturers need to understand the loading involved when securing a wheelchair to the vehicle, because wheelchairs can weigh much more than vehicle seats. The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) has conducted hundreds of dynamic sled tests of wheelchairs since the 1980s that include data on securement forces. These tests have involved manual, power, and stroller wheelchairs and a range of crash dummy sizes from small children to large adult males. This project first involved updating the wheelchair sled test database with the most recent test results, and then investigated factors that affect load levels. The main finding is that the weight of the wheelchair has the greatest correlation with the amount of floor loading. Results from this analysis will allow vehicle manufacturers to design wheelchair seating stations for AVs that will allow passengers who travel while seated in a wheelchair to ride safely and independently.
Authors: Kayla Rowell, Nichole Orton, Miriam Manary, Kathleen Klinich
Research Method: Data Collection and Analysis
