Training on the manufacturing of a BLDC motor-based hybrid wheelchair with an adaptive assistance system to support the independent mobility of students at SLBD YPAC

Abstract

Paraplegic and diplegic students at the YPAC Bandung Special Needs School (SLBD) face physical fatigue when navigating uphill paths in manual wheelchairs. Conversely, using fully electric wheelchairs can lead to neuromuscular degradation. To address this, a community service project provided practical training in constructing a hybrid wheelchair equipped with a Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motor and an adaptive assistance system. Designed in accordance with WHO standards, the system automatically activates additional BLDC motor torque on inclines of 3° or greater, while preserving active manual propulsion on flat surfaces. Through Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Service Learning methodologies, school staff participated in co-design, assembly workshops, and field testing. Results showed a significant increase in staff technical competency from 23.3% to 82.6%. The resulting prototype reduced manual propulsion effort on inclines by 20%–35%, safeguarding users' neuromuscular health and effectively improving safe, independent mobility for students.