Racing wheelchair roll stability while turning: a simple model

Wheelchair racing is an important modality in the rehabilitation of people with mobility impairments; thus, it plays a significant role in the lives of many wheelchair users. This paper presents simple roll stability analyses for three- and four-wheeled rider/racing wheelchair systems during turning maneuvers. The results suggest that three-wheeled systems may be less stable than four-wheeled systems under certain circumstances. On the other hand, under certain circumstances, four-wheeled systems could be less stable than three-wheeled systems as well. Further study is required to include human factors in determining the optimal relation between stability and controllability.