Adjustable Sidewalk Inclination for Wheelchair Crossing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wheelchairs may face difficulties in waiting or starting to cross a road due to the condition of the point where they begin crossing, which can hinder their travel convenience.
Innovation Solution
A control device outputs control information to a sidewalk with a changeable road surface inclination, instructing it to reduce the inclination when a wheelchair is detected waiting to cross the road, thereby facilitating the wheelchair's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the road surface inclination is maintained as is, then the sidewalk structure remains simple and stable, but the wheelchair cannot wait or start crossing easily
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewalk road surface inclination is made dynamically adjustable through embedded drive units that can change the slope in real-time. When a wheelchair approaches, the system detects this and adjusts the inclination to facilitate easier crossing, then restores the original inclination after use. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing operational ease only when needed, while maintaining structural simplicity during normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameter of road surface inclination is changed from a fixed value to a variable parameter that can be adjusted based on detected wheelchair presence. The control device modifies the inclination parameter within a specific range (e.g., -5° to +5°) to optimize wheelchair crossing conditions, thereby improving ease of operation without permanently altering the sidewalk's basic structure.
2Ease of operation
If the road surface inclination is reduced to help wheelchair wait and cross, then the wheelchair travel convenience is improved, but the road surface requires active control and adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a feedback mechanism where the control device continuously monitors the wheelchair's position and status, then adjusts the road surface inclination accordingly. The drive units receive control signals based on real-time detection data, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically adapts the road surface to wheelchair needs without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The sidewalk system performs self-service by automatically detecting the wheelchair's presence and adjusting its own inclination without external assistance. The embedded sensors and drive units work autonomously to facilitate wheelchair crossing, with the system managing its own state changes based on detected conditions, thereby reducing the need for external automated control systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the road surface inclination is made changeable to assist wheelchair, then the accessibility is improved, but the manufacturing and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewalk is segmented into modular sections with embedded drive units at specific locations. Each segment can be independently controlled and adjusted, allowing the system to achieve adaptability only where needed for wheelchair crossing while maintaining standard manufacturing and installation practices for the rest of the sidewalk structure. This modular approach reduces overall manufacturing complexity compared to a fully customizable surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The road surface inclination adjustment capability is applied locally only at specific zones where wheelchair crossing occurs, rather than making the entire sidewalk dynamically adjustable. The drive units are installed at targeted locations to provide adaptability precisely where needed, while maintaining standard road surface characteristics and manufacturing processes elsewhere, thereby balancing adaptability with ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device outputs control information to a sidewalk configured such that an inclination of a road surface is changeable. When the control device detects a wheelchair waiting on the sidewalk for crossing a road, the control device outputs, as the control information, information of instruction to reduce the inclination of the road surface of the sidewalk.