Research Article Design and User Evaluation of a Wheelchair Mounted Robotic Assisted Transfer Device Garrett G. Grindle, 1,2 Hongwu Wang, 1,2 Hervens Jeannis, 1,2 Emily Teodorski, 1,2 and Rory A. Cooper 1,2 1 Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, 6425 Penn Avenue, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA 2 Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh, 6425 Penn Avenue, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA Correspondence should be addressed to Rory A. Cooper; rcooper@pitt.edu Received 11 April 2014; Revised 18 July 2014; Accepted 18 July 2014 Academic Editor: Andrew H. Hansen Copyright © 2015 Garrett G. Grindle et al. his is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Purpose. he aim of this study is to describe the robotic assisted transfer device (RATD) and an initial focus group evaluation by end users. he purpose of the device is to aid in the transfers of people with disabilities to and from their electric powered wheelchair (EPW) onto other surfaces. he device can be used for both stand-pivot transfers and fully dependent transfers, where the person being transferred is in a sling and weight is fully on the robot. he RATD is ixed to an EPW to allow for its use in community settings. Method. A functional prototype of the RATD was designed and fabricated. he prototype was presented to a group of 16 end users and feedback on the device was obtained via a survey and group discussion. Results. hirteen out of sixteen (83%) participants agreed that it was important to develop this type of technology. hey also indicated that user, caregiver, and robotic controls were important features to be included in the device. Conclusions. Participants in this study suggested that they would be accepting the use of robotic technology for transfers and a majority did not feel that they would be embarrassed to use this technology. 1. Introduction he ability of people with mobility impairments to live in their homes and communities with maximal independence oten hinges, in part, on their ability to transfer or to be trans- ferred by an assistant. In order to help people with mobility impairments that cannot transfer independently live at home and participate in life’s activities, insurance or government agencies may provide for personal attendant care services and in some cases provide stipends for family members providing these services. Further, independent transfers are a common source of upper extremity injuries and joint degeneration that oten leads to the need for assistance with transfers over time [1]. Recent research has also shown that many people who can perform independent transfers need assistance when the height diferential between transfer surfaces is greater than 75 mm or the gap between surfaces is greater than 150 mm [2]. For people who use power wheelchairs and need human and/or mechanical assistance with transfers, the options are limited. During dependent transfers with a human assistant, there is a high risk of injury (both acute and cumulative) to both the wheelchair user and the assistant, especially over the long term [1]. Between 1973 and 1987, 770 wheelchair-related accidents that led to death were reported to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission. 8.1% of these accidents were caused by falls during transfers [3]. Between 1986 and 1990, there were an estimated 36,000 wheelchair-related accidents in the USA that resulted in a visit to the emergency department. 17% of these accidents were due to falls during transfers [4]. In 2003, more than 100,000 wheelchair-related injuries were treated in US emergency departments, showing an upward trend in the number of injuries over time [5]. Hindawi Publishing Corporation BioMed Research International Volume 2015, Article ID 198476, 9 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/198476