Development of Train-Boarding Assistance Device for Wheelchair

Abstract

Wheelchair users require the assistance of station staff when boarding trains due to step differences and the gap between the platform and train. Therefore, they feel stressed in the movement with the train. In addition, the burden on station employees is increasing with the increasing number of wheelchair users at railway stations. In this study, an assistance device is proposed to address these challenges. This device can be used with any existing wheelchair, platform, and train and does not require external power sources, such as electricity. Using this device, a wheelchair user can board a train independently without assistance.

Passive Add-On Mechanism for Electric Wheelchairs to Support Step Climbing Using Rider Motion

“…Mori et al's [12] method offers active assistance for step climbing but demands complex control and high reliability. Similarly, Munakata et al's [13] method provides active support for plantar locomotion and step climbing, yet it can only support 10 cm in 120 s. Kim et al's [14] approach can overcome both steps and gaps, enabling train boarding, but its add-on mechanism must be fixed to the station platform. Conversely, Hosaka et al's [15], [16] method requires time to lift the wheelchair, and its add-on mechanism is heavy.…”

“…While these active add-on mechanisms reduce the total system weight, they require reliable control and a relatively longer time to climb a step. Finally, as an example of a mechanism employing solely passive components, Kim et al developed a station platform-fixed add-on mechanism to facilitate boarding a train [14]. Similarly, Hosaka et al proposed a passive add-on mechanism that elevates a wheelchair when the rider applies a reciprocating motion on a lever [15] [16].…”