A Powered Toy Jeep for Kids with Limited Mobility
This powered Jeep was designed for children with limited mobility, using a joystick and an Arduino Nano for differential control.
As noted in this project’s write-up, “Children with limited mobility are often at risk of social isolation simply because they can’t easily approach playmates.” On the other hand, options for child-sized wheelchairs tend to be limited, and can be intimidating to other kids. Inspired by the GoBabyGo initiative, the South Eugene Robotics Team (FRC2521) built a powered Jeep that can be controlled by a joystick, making it easy to use for those with impaired mobility, and attracting positive attention from the rider’s peers at the same time!
The mini-Jeep is powered by a pair of motors that allows it to move and spin using differential control. The front wheels are replaced by casters to facilitate this type of movement, and an Arduino Nano, along with a pair of ESCs are used to translate joystick inputs into the proper motor signals. This enables it to move in a more analog fashion, in contrast to the on/off signals of similar button-based craft.
Additionally, the Jeep is modified with a PVC frame and high seat to accommodate the user. The linked instructions spell out how to alter this particular vehicle in some detail, but a generalized wiring diagram is found here. The concept should be familiar to anyone experienced with two-wheeled robots, and could be applied to a wide range of assistive-upgraded toys.
