Hello everyone. First the back story: My wife and I were very active outdoor people, mountain bikers, camping, even our honeymoon was a backpacking trip in Yosemite. 18 months ago, at 7 and a half months pregnant with our first child, the lovely wife was involved in a rollover car accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down. (Number One Son was born that day via emergency c-section and is absolutely perfect. Wife refers to herself as the human air-bag). She can move her shoulders, biceps, twist and flex her wrists, but has no triceps or any hand control. She gets around these days primarily in a power wheel chair with joystick control.
Which brings us to the matter at hand. I am seeking help/advice in building her an off-road trike or quad so that we can enjoy the outdoors more like we used to. I am sure that there will have to be several prototypes constructed, as we are unsure until I make some test bed for her to drive, whether or not she can effectively steer this contraption with conventional style handlebars, or if we will need to use a joystick. This alone is a very fundamental issue, as it greatly affects the drive system; a single non-hub motor for conventional steering or two motors for differential speed steering like her power chair works.
I am throwing this out here for your collective brainpower to toss about. This is different then the usual topics here, and keep these characteristics in mind: "fast" will be at the most a brisk walking speed. It needs to have reverse capability. We have ventured, in a very very limited way down a couple of local trails in her power chair, and have learned that 3 (trike) or 4 (quad) wheel drive would most likely be very, very helpful in getting over tree roots, uneven ground etc. Cost is of course a factor. If you ever want to know just how much breaking your neck and spending 4 months in an intensive care unit might cost, I can tell you its well beyond 7 digits....
I envision for the first prototype that I will have a yoke that twists like bicycle handlebars for steering, but that also can be pushed forward and back for power. Hopefully this design will work for her, unsure about the strength and stamina in her arms to make this work over an hour or two trip, but we will see. If she can steer it with out needing two motors, that will simplify alot of things. Servo assisted steering? Adds complexity and expense on that end, but might make the drive system/speed controller simpler...
Anyway, I'll let this start here, and see if we can collectively put our heads together to make something viable... I thank you all in advance for your ideas and expertise
Dave
Which brings us to the matter at hand. I am seeking help/advice in building her an off-road trike or quad so that we can enjoy the outdoors more like we used to. I am sure that there will have to be several prototypes constructed, as we are unsure until I make some test bed for her to drive, whether or not she can effectively steer this contraption with conventional style handlebars, or if we will need to use a joystick. This alone is a very fundamental issue, as it greatly affects the drive system; a single non-hub motor for conventional steering or two motors for differential speed steering like her power chair works.
I am throwing this out here for your collective brainpower to toss about. This is different then the usual topics here, and keep these characteristics in mind: "fast" will be at the most a brisk walking speed. It needs to have reverse capability. We have ventured, in a very very limited way down a couple of local trails in her power chair, and have learned that 3 (trike) or 4 (quad) wheel drive would most likely be very, very helpful in getting over tree roots, uneven ground etc. Cost is of course a factor. If you ever want to know just how much breaking your neck and spending 4 months in an intensive care unit might cost, I can tell you its well beyond 7 digits....
I envision for the first prototype that I will have a yoke that twists like bicycle handlebars for steering, but that also can be pushed forward and back for power. Hopefully this design will work for her, unsure about the strength and stamina in her arms to make this work over an hour or two trip, but we will see. If she can steer it with out needing two motors, that will simplify alot of things. Servo assisted steering? Adds complexity and expense on that end, but might make the drive system/speed controller simpler...
Anyway, I'll let this start here, and see if we can collectively put our heads together to make something viable... I thank you all in advance for your ideas and expertise
Dave