Novita Research Report - 2004 to 2007 - Novita Children's Services

55ResultsImplicationsStatusThe instrument complies with the Standard requirements as follows:• able to measure and record speed up to 5m/s, with an accuracy of +/-0.1m/s, a samplerate greater than 60Hz and facility to detect 10% and 90% values of maximum speed• able to measure and record acceleration up to 5m/s2, with an accuracy of +/-0.2m/s2,a sample rate greater than 60Hz and a frequency response such that frequencies above30Hz are rejected.This instrument provides the laboratory with the capacity to perform testing to theStandard test methods of ISO 7176-6. Given that Australian Standards are moving towardsharmonisation with the International (ISO) standards, it is expected that this test methodwill soon be adopted as an Australian Standard for electric wheelchairs. Thus there is anexpectation that all chairs requiring Australian Standards compliance in the future will alsoneed to demonstrate compliance with the test method of ISO 7176-6.CompletedProject titleContributorsSummaryInvestigating the use of switches as inputs to powered wheelchair driving controlsand the associated risksChris Hern (Flinders University), David Hobbs, Rob Garrett, Jeff PriceIn the field of assistive technology (AT), using a switch is often the only way someone with adisability can make a selection and control a piece of equipment. From a risk managementperspective, switch integrity and performance was highlighted as a potential safety issue,particularly when the switch in question is used in a critical situation.If a switch activates a toy and it doesn’t work, the worst-case scenario is that that the clientdoesn’t receive the ‘cause and effect’ response they were expecting. However, the use ofswitches as inputs to powered wheelchair driving controls is becoming more popular as newand improved products emerge. This raises concerns as to the suitability of switches beingused in these applications, since switch failure in this circumstance could potentially result inserious injury. If the switch were to fail in the ‘off’ position, the user would be unable to controltheir wheelchair and be left stranded as a consequence. If the switch fails in the ‘on’ position,the user could be uncontrollably driven into oncoming traffic or a stationary object.The aim of this project was to produce a minimum acceptable specification for switches thatare used as driving controls and evaluate existing switches against this specification.Using switch-adapted devices