An intelligent powered wheelchair to enable mobility of cognitively impaired older adults: An anticollision system

TitleAn intelligent powered wheelchair to enable mobility of cognitively impaired older adults: An anticollision system
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsMihailidis, A., P. Elinas, J. Boger, and J. Hoey
JournalIEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering
Volume15
Start Page136
Issue1
Date Published03/2007
ISSN1558-0210
Accession Number9370442
Keywordsdementia, infrared sensors, injuries, intelligent robots, medical services, object detection, prototypes, safety, wheelchairs
Abstract

Older adults with cognitive impairments are generally prohibited from using powered wheelchairs, because of the high risk of collisions with people and objects. This paper describes and presents the preliminary results of a system that uses an infrared sensor to provide anticollision and a prompting system for a powered wheelchair that helps guide the user safely past obstacles. Trials with the prototyped system detected collisions and stopped the chair in 95% of trials with an object and generated no false alarms.
DOI10.1109/TNSRE.2007.891385