Future Path Presentation to Passengers of an Autonomous Wheelchair Using Vibrotactile Feedback

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Robotics
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• Autonomous wheelchairs offer convenience but can cause passenger anxiety due to unpredictable movements.
• Current methods for informing passengers about wheelchair paths are limited, often focusing only on turning direction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel haptic feedback system for autonomous wheelchairs that communicates both the direction and width of future paths.
• To enhance passenger understanding and reduce anxiety by providing more comprehensive path information.

Main Methods:

• Proposed a haptic apparent motion method where feedback duration varies with turning width.
• Conducted an evaluation experiment to compare the proposed method against directional-only feedback and no feedback.

Main Results:

• The proposed method, conveying both direction and width of turns, significantly improved user understanding of the wheelchair's future path.
• Users reported a slightly greater sense of security when provided with comprehensive path information, including avoidance maneuvers.

Conclusions:

• Haptic feedback that includes turning width, in addition to direction, enhances passenger comprehension and comfort in autonomous wheelchairs.
• This approach is particularly beneficial in complex environments with pedestrians and obstacles, improving overall user experience and safety.