Page 42 - Mobility Management, July/August 2021

The Base Wheelchair
LUCI’s current generation of collision avoidance and drop-off protection systems mount to the power base of existing power wheelchair assemblies (PWA) made by Permobil, specifically, the Permobil M3/M5 and F3/F5 series of wheelchairs. These power wheelchairs have been certified by the manufacturer as compliant with all applicable ANSI/RESNA/ISO standards that regulate the safety performance requirements for wheelchairs in the US.
Every wheelchair manufacturer is required by ISO standards to publish a minimum braking distance from full speed. These distances are how long it takes the chair to come to a stop if the user is traveling on flat ground, recognizes an obstacle ahead, lets go of the joystick and waits for the chair to stop moving. It takes a wheelchair a lot longer to slow down than most people think!
This is what LUCI starts with.
Model
Minimum Braking Distance, as published by the manufacturer5
Permobil M3
6.6 feet
Permobil M5
9.2 feet
Permobil F3
6.6 feet
Permobil F5
9.2 feet
LUCI Hardware: SmartFrame, a System of Sensors and a Brain
LUCI is an accessory for specific power wheelchair models. LUCI interfaces with the existing power wheelchair and uses existing bolts on the wheelchair base. LUCI is intended for use in the home and/or community environments. LUCI consists of wheelchair mounted hardware (SmartFrame, Scout, Dashboard, and LuciLink Hub), LuciLink Wheelchair Key, and the MyLUCI App. LUCI is intended to be installed on a power wheelchair by a trained technician and proper installation and setup of the hardware is an important part of making LUCI safe.
After proper installation and setup, LUCI begins working as soon as the user turns the wheelchair on. It connects to the wheelchair’s power
system and assists the driver in maneuvering their environment safely. LUCI is suitable for continuous operation.