The Challenge
Vinny, like a lot of powerchair users, has minimal visibility when reversing. Vinny wanted a way to be able to see behind him without physically exerting himself, enabling him to navigate more confidently and independently. Vinny imagined something similar to a car’s reversing camera.
This project reflects work we were involved in previously; however, the design no longer aligns with our current focus due to the nature of the solution or the challenge. We are now more mindful of the safety and suitability of DIY design solutions. We share this in the spirit of acknowledging the valuable contributions of our volunteers and supporting open collaboration.
Team Vinny developed a modular reversing camera system from off-the-shelf components.
The camera has a 170-degree view, so that Vinny can see past his chair’s wheels. The live feed is transmitted through Bluetooth to Vinny’s mobile phone and displayed using a free application. The camera can be powered be the chair’s existing battery.