DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTATION AND PROTOCOL TO MEASURE THE DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT OF A MODIFIED VAN

The dynamic environment of a van modified to accommodate a person driv ing from a wheelchair was measured to determine the effects of positio n within the van and the type of seat used. The project measured accel erations as a subject sat in three positions within the van and upon t wo different seats. Three separate van maneuvers at different speeds w ere used to change the dynamic environment. Van accelerations at the d ifferent positions varied significantly. A wheelchair transmitted more accelerations to the subject than the original equipment manufacturer s (OEM) seat, making it harder to maintain a stable posture. These res ults should prove useful to others studying the functional abilities o f wheelchair users within a vehicle environment.