Clinical evaluation of semiautonomous smart wheelchair architecture (Drive-Safe System) with visually impaired individuals

Abstract

Abstract-Nonambulatory, visually impaired individuals mostly rely on caregivers for their day-to-day mobility needs. The Drive-Safe System (DSS) is a modular, semiautonomous smart wheelchair system aimed at providing independent mobility to people with visual and mobility impairments. In this project, clinical evaluation of the DSS was performed in a controlled laboratory setting with individuals who have visual impairment but no mobility impairment. Their performance using DSS was compared with their performance using a standard cane for navigation assistance. Participants rated their subjective appraisal of the DSS by using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index inventory. DSS significantly reduced the number and severity of collisions compared with using a cane alone and without increasing the time required to complete the task. Users rated DSS favorably; they experienced less physical demand when using the DSS, but did not feel any difference in perceived effort, mental demand, and level of frustration when using the DSS alone or along with a cane in comparison with using a cane alone. These findings suggest that the DSS can be a safe, reliable, and easy-to-learn and operate independent mobility solution for visually impaired wheelchair users.

Wheelchair Navigation System for Disabled and Elderly People

“…Over the last 20 years, the electric powered wheelchair (EPW) has been the most common mobility aid for those with reduced mobility and, recently, the intelligent EPW, which is also referred to as an intelligent wheelchair (IW), has garnered considerable attention as an emerging device to meet users’ various demands [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Essentially, IWs are EPWs with an embedded computer and sensors, which gives them “intelligence”.…”

“…During the past decade, a number of navigation algorithms have been explored for IWs, and most of them have used various range sensors for obstacle detection and avoidance [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. These sensor-based navigation systems consider objects that protrude more than a given distance from the ground as obstacles.…”

“…The robotic wheelchair was designed in [5] and offers obstacle avoidance and automatic following of target places specified by a user. In addition, a drive safe system (DSS) was implemented to support the safe mobility to visually impaired users [6,7]. The DSS can identify obstacles using two bumpers, five IRs, and five ultrasonic sensors, and it allows the user to follow a wall and cross through doors inside a building.…”

Design of a home multi-robot system for the elderly and disabled

“…Many examples of robots have been developed for rehabilitative and assistive purposes in the forms of "smart" wheelchairs [2][3][4][5], humanoid assistant robots [6][7][8][9][10], telepresence robots, serial manipulators [11][12][13][14][15][16], floor cleaning robots, and rollator walkers.…”

“…Mobility assistance robots provide many services to users, such as anti-collision sensors, navigation, and/or voice control [3][4][5]. Smart wheelchairs overall have appeared numerous times in the literature and cover a wide variety of concerns [4].…”