Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
At the Polytechnic University, a durable and quick-release track for an all-terrain wheelchair was created by order of the Observer Factory company. Before being handed over to the customer, the design was tested in real off-road conditions. The work was carried out with the support of the Priority-2030 strategic academic leadership program.
Engineers from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University have created a simple and reliable caterpillar track for the electric wheelchair “Maximus” so that it can be used in difficult-to-reach places. According to the engineers, this is especially important for improving the quality of life of people with special needs: the all-terrain wheelchair will allow them to move independently, for example, on a sandy beach, forest paths and snowy roads.
The customer of the work was the Kaliningrad manufacturer of wheelchairs “Observer Factory”. The engineers of the Polytechnic University faced a difficult task: to develop a durable and quickly removable track for an all-terrain wheelchair that would withstand the full weight of the wheelchair with a passenger and ensure the safety of the trip.
The Polytech Voltage Machine engineering team, with the support of experienced colleagues from the Automobiles and Tracked Vehicles department of the Higher School of Transport of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU, developed a rubber track with a metal embedded element inside. Together with partners, Polytech established a production chain: now such products can be mass-produced.
The track is track-type, meaning that each track is manufactured separately and then assembled together using special “fingers” with locks. The track is only 100 mm wide, which makes it unique, since tracks of such a width are currently not mass-produced. And the high ridges allow it to be used with pneumatic tires without the risk of the wheel coming off the track. Tensile tests have shown that the track can withstand a force of three tons.
Before handing over the product to the customer, the team conducted full-scale tests in real operating conditions. The operator sat in the stroller and, controlling the joystick, overcame the most difficult route. The stroller confidently passed through rough terrain, including swampy areas, muddy roads and different levels of roads.
We confidently passed all the declared tests and handed over the caterpillar to the customer. Thanks to our development, the wheelchair will be able to overcome almost any difficult terrain without outside help. This is especially important for people who want to lead an active lifestyle. It should be noted that a wheelchair with a caterpillar track is also relevant for moving around the city, especially in the spring and autumn periods, – noted the project manager, engineer of the Higher School of Transport of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU Stepan Pichakhchi.
“Observer Factory” has been a partner of the Polytechnic University for more than two years. In 2023, the university and the company developed a universal tracked platform “Zhuk” for wheelchair owners. The wheelchair drives onto the platform, after which the user controls its movement with a joystick. The project is designed to develop inclusive tourism in Russia.
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