Center for Wheelchairs and Assistive Robotics Engineering

有大量的残疾退伍军人（VwD）使用移动和操纵设备 由于老龄化，医疗保健的改善提高了严重损伤和多发性创伤的存活率， 导致多重残疾。“持久自由”行动、“伊拉克自由”行动和“新黎明”行动 250，000名唯一的VwD接受了VA假肢和感官辅助服务（PSAS）的设备。老兵 在WARE所做的一切和努力实现的核心。WARE一直是退伍军人领导的， 以退伍军人为重点，大量退伍军人在多个层面上参与WARE。参与性 行动设计一直是WARE研究和开发的核心。WARE的焦点 将在四个主题的研究和开发：（主题1）智能设备应用，（主题2） 高级轮椅设计（主题3）辅助机器人和智能系统（主题4）人类 机器接口。WARE将把能力建设与消费者之声（VoC）和过程之声联系起来 (VoP)通过创建核心活动，促进VwD和VA的创新环境， 临床医生很明显，一些VwD和辅助技术提供商不知道这一重要性， 现有技术，并要求随时了解现有技术和新兴技术。WARE将测量 消费者、提供者和家庭/护理人员对可用产品、研究成果和临床 实践指南，并评估它们是否被使用。培养下一代康复人才 科学家和工程师是一个中心可以为长期良好的最重要的贡献之一， 是VWD。WARE致力于指导新的调查人员（特别是退伍军人），以帮助他们 成功的职业生涯集中在VwD。WARE致力于成为辅助技术标准的领导者 制定和执行。WARE提出的研究、开发和核心活动将导致 改善VwD的功能和活动结果。WARE符合VA的卓越蓝图。它 促进退伍军人驱动的护理，解决弱势群体的问题，提升退伍军人管理局作为选择的提供者， 实现护理提供相比或超过私营部门，并与学术合作伙伴的VA对齐。 WARE将利用VA匹兹堡医疗保健系统（VAPHS），行业合作伙伴， 退伍军人服务组织和匹兹堡大学（皮特）。WARE已经并将继续成为 专注于为使用轮椅和机器人的VwD做出切实且可衡量的改进 技术.一个首要目标是将研究结果转化为整个VA并供退伍军人使用。 关键词（科学学科）：康复工程，物理医学与康复， 物理治疗 关键词（研究方向）：智能设备应用、先进轮椅设计、辅助机器人 和智能系统，人机界面轮椅，辅助机器人，可穿戴和 连接的设备。

There is an influx in the number of Veterans with disabilities (VwD) using mobility and manipulation devices due to aging, improved medical care which has increased survival rates from severe injuries, and polytrauma resulting in multiple disabilities. Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn account for over 250,000 unique VwD who received devices from VA Prosthetics and Sensory Aid Service (PSAS). Veterans are at the heart of everything that WARE does and strives to achieve. WARE has always been Veteran-led and Veteran-focused with a significant number of Veterans engaged with WARE at multiple levels. Participatory action design is and always has been the very heart of WARE’s research and development. The focus of WARE will be on research and development within four themes: (Theme 1) Smart Device Applications, (Theme 2) Advanced Wheelchair Design, (Theme 3) Assistive Robotics and Intelligent Systems, and (Theme 4) Human Machine Interfaces. WARE will link capacity building and Voice of the Consumer (VoC) and Voice of the Process (VoP) recommendations by creating core activities in promoting an innovation environment for VwD and VA clinicians. It is apparent that some VwD and assistive technology providers do not know that important technologies exist and asked to be kept informed about available and emerging technologies. WARE will measure consumer, provider, and family/caregiver awareness of available products, research outputs, and clinical practice guidelines and assess whether they are being used. Training the next generation of rehabilitation scientists and engineers is one of the most important contributions a Center can make to the long-term well- being of VwD. WARE is committed to mentoring new investigators (especially Veterans) to help them to successful careers focused on VwD. WARE is committed to remain a leader in assistive technology standards development and implementation. WARE’s proposed research, development, and core activities will result in improved function and mobility outcomes of VwD. WARE is aligned with the VA’s Blueprint for Excellence. It promotes Veteran-driven care, addresses vulnerable populations, elevates the VA as the provider of choice, aims to achieve care delivery that compares to or exceeds the private sector, and aligns the VA with academic partners. WARE will leverage the expertise developed by VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS), industry partners, Veterans Service Organizations, and the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt). WARE has been and will continue to be focused on making tangible and measurable improvements for VwD who use wheelchairs and robotics technologies. An overarching goal is to translate findings throughout VA and into use by Veterans. Keywords (Scientific Disciplines): Rehabilitation Engineering, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Physical Therapy. Keywords (Research Foci): Smart Device Applications, Advanced Wheelchair Design, Assistive Robotics and Intelligent Systems, and Human Machine Interfaces Wheelchairs, Assistive Robotics, Wearable and Connected Devices.