Vol.9, No 1, 2011 pp. 107 - 118
UDC 681.3.02
APPLICATION OF VIRTUAL MANNEQUINS IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF MODULAR WHEELCHAIR
Sofija Sidorenko, Jelena Micevska, Ile Mircheski
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Sts Cyril and Methodius University, Karpos II bb, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
E-mail: sofija.sidorenko@mf.edu.mk
Patients with cerebral palsy need different wheelchairs for inside and outside use. On the other hand, children with cerebral palsy are growing up and the necessity for bigger wheelchairs becomes an economic problem for their families. In order to meet the needs of these children we propose a model of adjustable modular wheelchairs. Using ergonomic methods and appropriate anthropometric measurements of children we have established the ranges of adjustable dimensions for seat for children of age between 7 and 14 years. On the basis of these dimensions a model of an adjustable seat for wheelchair is made. Using the principle of modularity the seat is designed to be adjustable in several dimensions: seat height, backrest height, headrest height, armrests height and distance and footrests height and distance. The principle of modularity is also applied in the possibility to place the seat on different driving structures. Virtual 3D model of the wheelchair is evaluated by virtual mannequins in several different positions: dimensional comfort in sitting and standing positions, zones of convenient reach for seated patient and also hand reach comfort for the companion person who drives the wheelchair.
Key words: Anthropometrics, Ergonomics, Modularity, Virtual Mannequin, Wheelchair
PRIMENA VIRTUALNIH MANEKENA U PROCESU PROJEKTOVANJA I PROCENJIVANJA MODULARNIH INVALIDSKIH KOLICA
Pacijenti sa cerebralnom paralizom imaju potrebu za različitim invalidskim kolicima za unutrašnju i spoljašnju upotrebu. Na drugoj strani, deca sa cerebralnom paralizom odrastaju tako da nužnost većih kolica postaje ekonomski problem za njihove porodice. Da bismo zadovoljili njihove potrebe predlažemo model podešljivih modularnih invalidskih kolica. Primenom ergonomskih metoda i odgovarajućih antropometrijskih merenja dece ustanovili smo opsege podešljivih dimenzija za decu između 7 i 14 godina. Po tim dimenzijama načinjen je model podešljivog sedišta za stolicu. Uz primenu principa modularnosti sedište je projektovano da se može podešavati u nekoliko dimenzija a to su: visina sedišta, visina leđnog naslona, visina naslona za glavu, visina naslona za ruke i razdaljina kao i visina nožnog oslonca i razdaljina. Princip modularnosti je takođe primenjen na mogućnost smeštanja sedišta u različite vozne konstrukcije. Virtualni 3d model kolica se procenjivao uz pomoć virtualnih manekena u nekoliko različitih položaja: dimenziona udobnost u sedećem i stajaćem položaju, zone udobnog dohvata za sedećeg korisnika kao i udobnost ručnog dohvata za pratioca koji gura kolica.
Ključne reči: antropometrika, ergonomika, modularnost, virtualni maneken, invalidska kolica