Electric Wheelchair using BLDC Motor

In this post we learn how to make a simple electric wheelchair using a standard BLDC motor driver circuit, and a couple of high power BLDC motors.

Introduction

The introduction of electric wheelchair was like a boon to our many differently-abled friends who now find it much easier to move and travel around, effortlessly,  with just a push of a button.

The only costly and complicated part in a wheel chair design is its ergonomic calculations, and the wheel mechanism efficiency, whereas the electronics for controlling the system seems to be comparably less costlier and complex.

If a manufacturer has the access to the most effective ergonomic design of the wheel chair then making the electrical/electronic section of the system can be quickly implemented by implementing the steps as explained in the following explanation.

Specifications

To make an electric wheel chair the main components required for this may be as per the following list:

1) BLDC Motors - 2nos (250 watt each)

2) Wheelchair body assembly

3) BLDC Driver Circuit

4) Deep Cycle Battery or preferably Li-ion - 2nos each 24V 60AH

Except the BLDC driver circuit rest of the materials can be procured readymade from the market.

Although I have presented many BLDC driver circuits in this website, I'll be selecting the one which looks more promising and effective due to its flexible features in terms of motor specs and power handling capacity.

In the last post I discussed a relatively simple yet universal BLDC driver circuit using the IC ML4425, and will be employing the same design for our present electric wheelchair motor driver circuit.

Due to its sensorless specs, the circuit allows you to incorporate any type of 3-phase motor regardless of whether it has sensors or not, and without any constraints to the current (Amp) limit required for driving the motor.

The complete schematic can be witnessed in the following image:

Circuit Schematics

The technical specs for the above sensorless BLDC driver have been already explained in our previous post, therefore you may refer the same for learning the details in-depth.

The controls are actually quite easy and would enable effortless control and maneuvering for the user operating the wheelchair.

The RUN/BRAKE switch could be a single heavy duty DPDT switch which can be used by the operator to instantly stop the wheelchair, whenever required.

Speed of the wheeelchair could be simply controlled by sliding the R18 knob clockwise/anticlockwise. This pot must be of very good quality, preferably a multi-turn type, as shown below.

Potentiometer Specifications

The supply voltage has a wide range, starting from 24V to 80V, which means more batteries could be connected in series to operate higher voltage rated motors, which in turn would allow the manufacturer to incorporate smaller sized motors and batteries, ensuring compact and lighter wheelchairs.

Both the motors coupled with the rear wheels could be joined in parallel and driven using the above shown BLDC driver circuit.

If you have any specific queries regarding the above explained electric wheelchair circuit using BLDC motor, do not hesitate to express them through the below given search box.

UPDATE:

The above design lacks the crucial motor reversing feature,  an improved design having a reversing feature can be found in the following pdf datasheet:

BLDC driver 

Video Clip: