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DETERMINING HEAD POSITION TO ASSIST ELECTRIC-POWERED WHEELCHAIR OPERATION FOR PERSONS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Bevly III, Alex James (2008) DETERMINING HEAD POSITION TO ASSIST ELECTRIC-POWERED WHEELCHAIR OPERATION FOR PERSONS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Monitoring head position in persons with a traumatic brain injury may provide a means for independent powered mobility. Given the often limited residual functions of attending, visual processing, and motor control, the operation of an electric-powered wheelchair must be constantly monitored to ensure the safety of these users. Human-directed support is not always available and does not encourage independent mobility. The solution proposed for this problem is placement of a magnet on the rear of the person's head. Strategically placed linear analog Hall effect sensors that are fixed in a stationary headrest can then track the magnet; thus, accurately determining head positioning. With this proposed head tracking, a specialized interface to the electric-powered wheelchair controller can be used to ensure the person's head is attending the direction of travel asserted by a conventional, direction-sensing joystick.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Bevly III, Alex Jamesalex_bevly@yahoo.com
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairMickle, Marlin Hmickle@ee.pitt.eduMICKLE
Committee MemberSpaeth, Donald Mspaethd@herlpitt.org
Committee MemberCain, J Tcain@ee.pitt.eduJTC
Committee MemberHoelzeman, Ronald Ghoelzema@ee.pitt.eduHOELZEMA
Committee MemberCooper, Rory Arcooper@pitt.eduRCOOPER
Date: 8 September 2008
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 7 April 2005
Approval Date: 8 September 2008
Submission Date: 10 April 2005
Access Restriction: 5 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 5 years.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Swanson School of Engineering > Electrical Engineering
Degree: MSEE - Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Thesis Type: Master's Thesis
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: analog Hall effect sensor; cued guidance; cuing; electric powered wheelchair; electronic monitoring; EPW; head position; head position monitor; magnetic position detection; TBI; traumatic brain injury
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04102005-204724/, etd-04102005-204724
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 19:35
Last Modified: 19 Dec 2016 14:35
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/6942

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