Rachel Davis, Dr. Jose Riofrio, PhD, Rose Flammang, DPT, Michelle Broggi, DPT

Modified ride-on toy cars have been suggested as a viable, low-cost form of assistive technology (AT) for young children with severe motor impairments. GoBabyGo is a national program which offers day-long events for volunteers to modify ride-on toy cars for families of children in need of AT, free of charge. Most volunteers at these events are clinicians or family members, thus the modifications are relatively narrow in scope, addressing limited motor impairment conditions. This project used a multi-disciplinary approach to develop more complex modifications in an eight-week span, allowing for a wider range of children to benefit from this type of AT. 

Specific goals of this project included mechanizing the steering system by implementing a drive-by-wire system, and developing a control system to drive the vehicle based on the child’s intent. Starting with an off-the-shelf ride-on toy car, these goals were met by implementing several electronic components. At the center of the modifications, an Arduino UNO was used as the control system translating sensor inputs into mechanical outputs, where the mechanical outputs were the steering and driving of the car, and the sensor inputs came from either remote-controlled (RC) signals or accelerometer signals. The RC feature was implemented for parental use, whereas the accelerometer was attached to a headband (worn by the child), with which he can control the car via nodding and tilting head motions. This system was successfully developed and donated to the child.

Corresponding Authors: Rachel Davis, Rachel.Davis@quinnipiac.edu