Virtual Reality Simulation for Robotic Wheelchair Assistive Technologies

“全球约有6500万人需要轮椅帮助行动，其中2000万人没有轮椅。许多拥有轮椅的人可能由于其他一些障碍而无法正确地驾驭它；这证明需要使轮椅适应每个用户的要求。除了开发个性化的轮椅，让第一次使用轮椅的人在接触现实生活中的危险之前，以安全的方式练习导航也很重要。为新轮椅使用者提供培训的一种越来越受欢迎的方法是虚拟现实（VR）。我们相信这样的训练计划通过改善轮椅使用者的功能，减少电动轮椅的弃用，降低电动轮椅事故的发病率、死亡率和相关费用，对轮椅使用者的生活产生积极的影响[1]。然而，这种方法有局限性。例如，据报道，一些用户发现难以感知深度和距离。这是一个在更复杂的VR环境中特别容易出现的问题。这给用户的感觉是在一个不现实的领域[3]，这违背了使用虚拟现实的目的。克服这些限制对于充分利用VR所提供的优势并为用户提供最佳体验至关重要。该研究项目将研究如何通过辅助技术赋予轮椅使用者权力，重点是开发针对他们需求的VR系统，使他们能够在日常生活中进行安全导航。这将需要生成适当的软件，分析来自轮椅和使用者的输入数据，这些数据表明用户的运动，并使用这些数据在模拟环境中导航。还将研制收集有关信号/数据所需的硬件。参考书目b[1]“世界卫生组织，SEARO残疾信息文件”。世界卫生组织，世界卫生组织，2017年7月18日，original .searo.who.int/entity/disabilities_injury_rehabilitation/topics/ disabilityfactsheet2013.1 / zh /。Brad E. diciano。电动轮椅训练的虚拟现实-全文视图。全文查看- ClinicalTrials.gov，匹兹堡大学，2018年6月19日，clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03562455。[10]陶涛，戈登，菲利普·s·阿尚鲍尔。“动力轮椅模拟器开发：用3D手部运动控制器实现组合导航-到达任务。”神经工程与康复杂志，生物医学中心，2016年1月19日”

"About 65 million individuals globally require the aid of a wheelchair for mobility, 20 millions of whom do not have one [1]. Many of the those who possess a wheelchair may not be able to navigate it correctly due to some other impairments they may have; this is evidence for the need of adapting wheelchairs to the requirements of each individual user. Alongside developing an individualised wheelchair, it is also important to give first-time users the possibility to practice navigation in a safe manner, prior to being exposed to real-life hazards. A method that is increasing in popularity to provide training for new wheelchair users is Virtual Reality (VR). It is believed that such a training program impacts positively the life of wheelchair users by improving function, reducing abandonment of power wheelchairs, reducing morbidity, mortality and associated costs occurring from power wheelchair accidents [2]. Nonetheless, this method has limitations. It has been reported that some users find it difficult to perceive depth and distance, for example. It is a problem especially occurring in more complex VR environments. This gives the user the feeling of being in an unrealistic domain [3], which defeats the purpose of using virtual reality. Overcoming these limitations is essential to fully take advantage of the benefits VR has to offer and to give users the best experience possible. This research project would study ways to empower the wheelchair users through assistive technology, focusing on developing a VR system specific to their needs allowing them to conduct safe navigation in everyday life. This would entail in generating appropriate software that analyses incoming data from the wheelchair and user which indicate the user's movement and use the data to navigate within a simulated environment. Necessary hardware will be developed as well for the collection of the relevant signals/data.Bibliography [1] "World Health Organization, SEARO Disability Information Document." World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 18 July 2017, origin.searo.who.int/entity/disabilities_injury_rehabilitation/topics/disabilityfactsheet201 3/en/. [2] Dicianno, Brad E. "Virtual Reality for Power Wheelchair Training - Full Text View." Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov, University of Pittsburgh, 19 June 2018, clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03562455. [3] Tao1, Gordon, and Philippe S. Archambault1. "Powered Wheelchair Simulator Development: Implementing Combined Navigation-Reaching Tasks with a 3D Hand Motion Controller." Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, BioMed Central, 19 Jan. 2016 "