<；P>；PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheelchair drive unit which functions only by mounting a wheelchair thereon without modifying a manual wheelchair and occupies a small area. <；P>；SOLUTION: The wheelchair drive unit is provided with: a carriage 3 for mounting rear wheels 11 of a manual wheelchair 2 thereon； drive wheels 5 which are provided at central parts on both right and left sides of the carriage 3 and are driven by independently controllable motors； driven omni wheels 6 at least one of which is provided for each of back and front end parts of the carriage 3 and which move up and down by a suspension 8； and a controller for independently controlling respective motors for driving left and right drive wheels. Thus, the drive wheels are operated in a state in which the rear wheels of the manual wheelchair are mounted on the carriage and front wheels are off the carriage, so that back and forth movements and operation become possible. A magnetic sensor or a camera may be used to perform automatic travel. Also, loads are conveyed by the carriage and a person gets on the carriage without the wheelchair and the carriage runs. <；P>；COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
