System-Level Approach to Designing a Smart Wireless Charging System for Power Wheelchairs

摘要

New technology design and its integration into a social environment in a noninvasive way are recognized as one of the main challenges of the rapidly growing technology world. The design complexity is amplified if the system is intended for a sensitive user category, e.g., persons with disabilities and aging adults. A high percentage of power wheelchairs (PWCs) users rely on caregivers or family members to charge their PWC units. In this article, a design methodology is presented that describes a system-level approach for designing a 1-kW smart wireless charger for PWCs. This article describes how power electronics, communication, automation, software, and internet technologies are integrated to deliver a functional hands-free, free-position PWC charging solution. The proposed solution utilizes a multicoil transmitter pad to achieve a free-positioning feature and dual-side control to regulate the power. The researchers adopted a human-in-the-loop approach to seek feedback from end-users and tailor the final design through multiple generations of prototypes. Moreover, some existing technical solutions regarding pad design and stray field shielding are adapted or advanced to meet the application requirements, and their effectiveness is validated on a 1-kW prototype.