Evaluation of scooters using ANSI/RESNA standards

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Souza AE, Pearlman JL, Cooper R, Kelleher A, Gebrosky B, Cooper RA. Evaluation of scooters using ANSI/RESNA standards. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50(7):1017–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2011.03.0054

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2011.03.0054JSP

Evaluation of scooters using ANSI/RESNA standards

Ana E. Souza, PhD, PT; Jonathan L. Pearlman, PhD; Rosemarie Cooper, MPT; Annmarie Kelleher, OTR/L, MS;

Benjamin Gebrosky, BS; Rory A. Cooper, PhD



• Aim– Evaluate and compare scooter model performance on

American National Standards Institute/ Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (ANSI/RESNA) tests.

• Relevance– Absence of objective test reports and evidence of high

rate of wheelchair breakdowns in community have led to speculation that not all commercially available devices meet ANSI/RESNA standards.



Method

• Tested 12 three-wheeled scooters according to ANSI/RESNA wheelchair standards.

• Scooter models – Victory, Gogo, Golden Companion (GC) I, and GC II.

• Tests– Static stability; dynamic stability; effectiveness of brakes;

energy consumption; maximum speed, acceleration, and deceleration; climatic; static, impact, and fatigue; power and control systems; tiller.



Results• Stability

– Most: Victory and GC II. – Least: Gogo.

• Environmental conditions– 3 Gogo, 1 GC I, 1 GC II

failed.

• Power and control systems– All GC I and II scooters

failed parts of.

• Static and impact– All scooters passed.

• However, all Gogo scooters and one GC II scooter had structural or motor failure during durability tests.

• Survival life – 62,512 to 1,178,230 cycles

out of 400,000 needed to pass.

• Tiller failures– Occurred with average 1,483

N applied force.



Conclusion

• Results showed inconsistent responses from scooter models within each standard test.– Suggests current models on market:• Are not as reliable as they should be. • May be putting users at risk of injuries.

• Results provided quantitative data that will:– Benefit quality of future scooters developed.– Help clinicians and users identify appropriate

device for specific user.

Evaluation of scooters using ANSI/RESNA standards

Documents

Transcript of Evaluation of scooters using ANSI/RESNA standards