Novel approach for powered wheelchair user identification and steering

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Assistive Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Powered wheelchairs are crucial for mobility but often require extensive setup, limiting actual driving time.
• Shared powered mobility platforms necessitate efficient user adjustments for multiple individuals.
• Caregiver burden and user frustration arise from lengthy setup procedures for powered wheelchairs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test integrated systems for powered wheelchairs to enhance user autonomy and driving duration.
• To reduce the time and effort caregivers spend on setting up shared powered mobility devices.
• To improve the overall quality of life for powered wheelchair users through technological integration.

Main Methods:

• Stakeholder consultation including interviews with caregivers and occupational therapists.
• Development of four integrated systems: facial recognition, digital scanning collision avoidance, contactless infra-red sensors, and automated data collection.
• Prototype testing and preliminary data analysis of system performance and user interaction.

Main Results:

• Facial recognition system accurately identified users and rejected non-users.
• Digital range system offered faster response and enhanced control compared to existing hardware.
• Contactless input system operated silently with an auto-calibrate function, improving user experience.
• All integrated systems demonstrated successful collaboration, with data collection indicating reduced setup and increased driving times.

Conclusions:

• The integrated approach significantly reduces caregiver setup time and effort for powered wheelchairs.
• The developed systems enhance user autonomy and increase actual driving duration, improving quality of life.
• Preliminary findings suggest proficient synergy among systems, warranting further controlled trials for statistical validation.