Design and Fabrication of Detachable Wheelchair Automator

– Mobility solutions are essential for improving accessibility for individuals with physical disabilities. Manual wheelchairs, while practical, often require considerable effort from users. To address this, this paper presents the development of a detachable wheelchair automator that converts a regular manual wheelchair into a semi-powered one. The system features a unique latch-based locking mechanism that enables quick attachment and detachment of the motorized module. A 24V, 250W PMDC motor is used for power transmission via a chain-sprocket system, though the battery used was a basic one and not optimized for long-range or hybrid functionality. Mechanical parts were designed in Siemens NX software, and structural analysis was conducted in ANSYS to ensure durability and strength under load. The prototype was fabricated and tested for functional validation. The focus is on ease of operation, low cost, and simple mechanical integration.