Quantum: new robot arms to secure wheelchair users on MBTA buses

[kestrell]

Kes: I know I'm just a product of the '80s because I just keep seeing bad sf horror movie all over this. Also, I want Crispin Glover to be the voice of Quantum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aogfpsnjHO4

Comments

Rolls up her sleeves, grabs a beer.

[jesse_the_k]

There are so many bogus elements here!

1. Wheelchair securement is a theatrical gesture. Bus seats are a very thick plastic shell covering a thick metal frame (and if you're extra lucky there may be some padded vinyl for comfort). I've never seen a wheeled mobility device anywhere near as sturdy. In a crash, the chair would collapse internally. Chairs are secured to limit unguided missiles inside the bus, shielding the other passengers, not the chair user.

2. The MBTA trainer in this movie did something stunningly bad -- they grabbed on to the wheelchair and shoved it side to side, without getting permission from the user.

3. Wicked expensive electromechanical systems are prone to failure when exposed to road salt, gravel, sand, grit and typical Boston weather. So good luck when the power fails and the driver's supposed to stick a coin in a tiny black slot near the floor.

4. Q'straint will make more bucks, though.

5. Nothing is faster than an experienced rider and drive with old fashioned four-point tie downs. 75 seconds from boarding to vrooming off again on my regular routes.

Re: Rolls up her sleeves, grabs a beer.

[kestrell]

Yes, this looked like another "let's replace an expensive knowledge and experienced driver with a piece of tech that has about half a dozen points of failure": I seriously don't see how a robot arm is more secure than the four secure points that are manually operated by a human.

[capri0mni]

Also, what about motorized chair users (such as myself)?

[kestrell]

As a blind reader, it is unclear: does this device also apply to wheelchair users? And, if not, doesn't that mean the bus driver is still going to have to knkow how to use the old school manual secure attach points? Also, there is such a wide variety of wheelchairs: I know one user who has something that is practically a small truck: it's very heavy, and has many things attached to it, including an oxygen tank. I'm not sure a robot arm could hold it.I'm not sure Iron Man could hold it.

[capri0mni]

The shows the demonstrating "Wheelchair user" in what looks like a bog standard folding manual wheelchair like one would rent part time when leaving a hospital (without even any footrests attached -- his feet are actually dragging on the ground), already in position; we don't even get to see how he maneuvered into position. It certainly doesn't look like any sort of chair that's been personalized for his own use. That's why I put "Wheelchair User" in quotes -- I suspect he might be an able-bodied person role-playing as a wheelchair user.

And there is absolutely no tie down options available -- no tie down points at all. The floor is completely smooth.

And the whole video demonstration focuses on whether the chair will tip over or not. As someone who's actually ridden in a vehicle in my motor chair (and if I recall correctly the model I had at the time weighed about 300 pounds) at highway speeds, my greatest concern is the chair sliding back and forth, and swiveling, not tipping over. And there's absolutely nothing beyond the bus's shoulder-and-lap seat belt, to keep the chair and user from sliding when the vehicle accelerates forward.

I don't see 1980's sci-fi robot horror here. I see failure to understand basic 1680's Newtonian physics.

If I boarded a bus in my motor chair, and saw this as the only available restraint system, I would immediately decline, and ask to get off immediately.

[capri0mni]

oops.