AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSAL WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT DEVICE FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
A wheelchair securement system for a vehicle is provided, comprising a latch configured to grasp an axle of a wheelchair, actuators operatively coupled to the latch; and a controller configured to generate control signals that control movement of the actuators to place the latch in an operative position before the wheelchair enters the vehicle, the operative position comprising a location where the axle of the wheelchair can be grasped securely. Further, A method for securing a wheelchair in a vehicle is provided, the method comprising receiving wheelchair settings of a wheelchair to be secured in a vehicle, generating control signals according to the wheelchair settings, and communicating the control signals to an actuator of a wheelchair restraint, wherein the actuator moves the wheelchair restraint to secure the wheelchair according to the control signals.
1 . A wheelchair securement system for a vehicle comprising:
a latch configured to grasp an axle of a wheelchair;
actuators operatively coupled to the latch; and
a controller configured to generate control signals that control movement of the actuators to place the latch in an operative position before the wheelchair enters the vehicle, the operative position comprising a location where the axle of the wheelchair can be grasped securely.
2 . The wheelchair securement system of claim 1 , further comprising a remote control in communication with the controller, wherein operations on the remote control provide instructions to the controller for generating the control signals.
3 . The wheelchair securement system of claim 1 , further comprising an application software executing in an electronic device, wherein the application software provides instructions to the controller for generating the control signals.
4 . The wheelchair securement system of claim 1 , wherein the latch is located at a front-facing rear passenger-side of the vehicle.
5 . A wheelchair restraint for a vehicle comprising:
a bottom chassis securely fastened to a floor of the vehicle;
a top chassis configured to slide up and down relative to the bottom chassis;
an arm configured to rotate around a pivot axis at a first end proximate to the top chassis;
a latch configured to securely grasp an axle of a wheelchair, the latch being attached to a second end of the arm distant from the top chassis and configured to slide relative to the arm toward and away from the top chassis;
a first actuator configured to slide the top chassis relative to the bottom chassis;
a second actuator configured to rotate the arm around the pivot axis; and
a third actuator configured to slide the latch relative to the arm.
6 . The wheelchair restraint of claim 5 , wherein the latch comprises a horizontal clasp and a vertical clasp and the wheelchair restraint further comprises a fourth actuator configured to move the horizontal clasp and the vertical clasp to securely grasp the axle of the wheelchair.
7 . The wheelchair restraint of claim 5 , wherein the first actuator, the second actuator, and the third actuator are controlled by a controller according to preset configuration settings of the wheelchair.
8 . The wheelchair restraint of claim 5 , wherein the top chassis slides relative to the bottom chassis using a sliding mechanism comprising rails.
9 . The wheelchair restraint of claim 5 , wherein the top chassis slides relative to the bottom chassis using a sliding mechanism comprising slots and pins.
10 . A method for securing a wheelchair in a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving wheelchair settings of a wheelchair to be secured in a vehicle;
generating control signals according to the wheelchair settings;
communicating the control signals to an actuator of a wheelchair restraint, wherein the actuator moves the wheelchair restraint to secure the wheelchair according to the control signals.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising
prompting a user for the wheelchair settings.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein
the prompting is through an application software installed in an electronic device.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein
the prompting is through a remote control coupled to a controller in the vehicle.
14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising
storing the wheelchair settings in a memory.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein
the memory is associated with a controller that generates the control signals based on the wheelchair settings stored in the memory.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein
the memory is associated with an onboard computer in the vehicle, and the method further comprises communicating the wheelchair settings stored in the memory of the onboard computer to a controller that generates the control signals.
17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising
modifying the control signals according to updated instructions received from a remote control in the vehicle coupled to the controller.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein
the wheelchair restraint comprises:
a bottom chassis securely fastened to a floor of the vehicle;
a top chassis configured to slide up and down relative to the bottom chassis;
an arm configured to rotate around a pivot axis at a first end proximate to the top chassis;
a latch configured to securely grasp an axle of a wheelchair, the latch being attached to a second end of the arm distant from the top chassis and configured to slide relative to the arm toward and away from the top chassis.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein
the actuator comprises:
a first actuator configured to slide the top chassis relative to the bottom chassis;
a second actuator configured to rotate the arm around the pivot axis; and
a third actuator configured to slide the latch relative to the arm.