Hi
I did write a novel length reply before but i lost the whole post somehow. i will rewrite it now
The machine is operated by a hand control which when the buttons are released it stops
As there is nothing under the chair as its lowered if the ground is higher ( say backed into the kerb with a 150mm high footpath ) then the operator
A if you can drive yourself then you can operate the wired remote
B if you dont drive then your carer will be in control of the remote...
Can stop the lowering of the pickup arms by simply releasing the finger off the button. There is a micro switch for when the machine is on a flat platform and it reaches "0" then it cant go lower.
This would be very unusual in New Zealand as we either drive into a parking space OR parallel park so the lowered machine height is the same as the vehicles standard height so 90 % of the time it will travel to its limit switch. Also if the car is parked on a slope OR road camber then the machine will still lower it parallel to the car ie the road surface. If its too steep then obviously drive around and find a more level park.
I have an abiloader in my current car for my manual chair and yes if the road is uneven it can jamb the chair in the loader . a good shake usually works but its not 70 kg of chair either :)
I dont ever want this to be autonomous as it will rip itself to pieces if something went wrong ( like a standard boot hoist if the hoist is lifted higher than the length of rope-cable it will snap the cable and drop 70 kg of machine on your feet ) common sense must prevail
Anyway
thanks fr your comments and i need all the brain power i can get to finalize this machine
Cheers
Richard