Permobil AB är ett medicintekniskt företag som bland annat tillverkar elektriska rullstolar. Till dessa rullstolar existerar i nuläget inte en större förvaringslösning som tillåter brukare enkel tillgång till innehållet. Frånvaron av förvaring leder till att improviserade och hemmagjorda lösningar används, vilket i sin tur leder till sekundära problem som exempelvis försämrad stabilitet och trycksår. Projektets mål var därför att skapa en prototyp (inklusive dess 3D-modeller) som tillät upp till 20 liter förvaring med tillgänglighet för brukaren. Projektets övergripande syfte var att öka självständigheten hos Permobils brukare och att öka deras möjlighet till deltagande i vardagsaktiviteter. Givet rådande Covid-19 omständigheter vid tidpunkten för detta arbete så utfördes inga användbarhetstester direkt mot brukare för att minimera smittspridning av viruset. Prototypen avgränsades även till att endast anpassas till Permobils sitssystem Corpus. Designprocessen användes som projektets huvudsakliga utvecklingsmetod där datainsamling bestod av inledande användbarhetstester i syftet att se problem och behov, användarhistorier, en användarresa och en riskanalys. Samtliga delar bidrog till skapandet av en kravspecifikation. I projektets designinriktade delar skapades tre moodboards och två tillfällen hölls med Permobils anställda för att skissa på idéer och lösningsförslag. Koncept som valdes att vidareutvecklades utvärderades genom 3D-modellering samt via skapandet av fysiska prototyper. De fysiska prototyperna funktionstestades mot den elektriska rullstolen för att utvärdera rörelsemönster, begränsningar och infästningsmöjligheter. En slutgiltig prototyp erhölls, där ett mekaniskt system omvandlade en linjär rörelse till en cirkulär. Rörelsen motsvarade 90° och tillät exempelvis väskor och påsar i storleken 20 liter att förflytta sig från den elektriska rullstolens rygg till dess sida. Projektets mål ansågs därför uppfyllda. Inga utmattningstester utfördes på prototypen då det varken var ekonomiskt eller tidsmässigt lönsamt i dess tidiga stadie och ska-krav som existerar på grund av ISO-standarder uppfylldes därför inte. Simuleringar och ytterligare utveckling i aluminium hade också varit nödvändigt för att bekräfta och uppfylla att konstruktionen håller för den önskade maxvikten. Resterande krav ansågs uppfyllda. Då ytterligare tester och förbättringar behövs så kan inte syftet för projektet anses vara uppfyllt, men visionen om en ökad självständighet lever vidare med prototypens vidareutveckling. / Permobil AB is a medical technology company that, among other things, manufactures electric wheelchairs. There is currently no major storage solution for these wheelchairs that allows users easy access to the content. The absence of storage leads to the use of improvised and home-made solutions, which in turn leads to secondary problems such as impaired stability and pressure ulcers. The project's goal was therefore to create a prototype (including its 3D models) that allowed up to 20 liters of storage with accessibility for the user. The overall purpose of the project was to increase the independence of Permobil's users and to increase their ability to participate in everyday activities. Given the prevailing Covid-19 circumstances at the time of this work, no usability tests were performed directly on users to minimize the spread of the virus. The prototype was chosen to be adapted only to Permobil's seating system Corpus. The design process was used as the project's main development method where data collection consisted of initial usability tests in order to see problems and needs, user stories, a user journey and a risk analysis. All parts contributed to the creation of a requirements specification. In the design-oriented parts of the project, three mood boards were created and two occasions were held with Permobil's employees to sketch ideas and solution proposals. Concepts chosen to be further developed were evaluated through 3D modeling and the creation of physical prototypes. The physical prototypes were functionally tested against the electric wheelchair to assess movement patterns, limitations and attachment possibilities. A final prototype was obtained, in which a mechanical system converted a linear motion into a circular one. The movement corresponded to 90° and allowed, for example, bags in the size of 20 liters to move from the back of the electric wheelchair to its side. The project's goals were therefore considered achieved. No fatigue tests were performed on the prototype as it was neither economically nor temporally profitable in its early stages and requirements that exist due to ISO standards were therefore not met. Simulations and further development in aluminum are also necessary to confirm and fulfill that the construction holds for the desired maximum weight. The remaining requirements were considered met. As further tests and improvements are needed, the purpose of the project cannot be considered fulfilled. Still, the vision of increased independence lives on with the further development of the prototype.

Imagine a power wheelchair that can step over obstacles, step up on sidewalks and drive on lateral slopes whilst the user is still seated upright. Previously these features were impossible, but thanks to Elumo this is no longer the case. Elumo is a six-wheeled base to be used on electric wheelchairs. The base has been developed by Malin Svensson and Johan Olsson during their bachelor’s thesis at the Innovation Engineering Program at Halmstad University. The project took place between autumn 2021 and spring 2022.   The development of Elumo started with several user studies conducted by the students, where over 70 wheelchair users responded to a survey concerning the everyday life of a person using wheelchairs. These users were later invited to a user workshop where they could list everyday complaints and possible improvements concerning existing power wheelchairs. One of the most common complaints was getting up on sidewalks and driving on uneven terrain.   Both of these problems will be solved with the base Elumo. The technology that makes the stepping-feature and improved suspension possible, is patented by the company EMTW and the students have had a close cooperation with them during the development. Our goal is for “Elumo to become a new product that will focus on the user and will deliver innovative power wheelchairs that provide safety, independence and improve quality of life for people using wheelchairs.”