The assistive-mobility simulator: a virtual reality-based system for scooter and power-wheelchair users

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In Canada, an estimated 200,000 individuals need a wheelchair for mobility: of these approximately 20% require a powered wheelchair, while 10% require a four-wheel scooter. Driving a power wheelchair or a scooter necessitates the acquisition of both basic and complex skills that include: controlling the joystick (wheelchair) or handlebar (scooter) in order to move forward, backward and turn. Training is also recognized as a means to improve PW safety. Indeed, because of their weight and speed, scooters and PWs have an inherent risk of causing serious injuries to the user and others, as well as damage to device or the environment. Unfortunately, clinicians and users indicate that the amount of training provided to new powered mobility drivers is insufficient. Another issue is that the types of situations that may cause incidents can be practiced in a clinical setting only to a limited degree: it would be unadvisable to have an inexperienced scooter user practice driving close to the edge of a sidewalk or have a PW use drive in a crowded cafeteria; and yet, these are situations that will be encountered in daily use. This is why, over the past five years, I have been working on the development and testing of the McGill Immersive Wheelchair simulator. The simulator is low cost as it runs on a regular personal computer; it provides a first-person, 3D perspective view and is interfaced through a USB joystick. Participants are given directions, such as "Please bring this book back to the library", and in so doing practice driving and way finding tasks. The overall goal of my research program is to create and evaluate affordable and portable technology that will allow the training of powered mobility skills, according to the needs expressed by stakeholders, such as powered mobility users and expert clinicians). Over the next five years, I propose to extend the simulator to electrical scooters, which will first necessitate an adequate measurement and modelization of scooter motion. I also intend to add a low-cost hand interface to allow the participants to accomplish different upper extremity tasks, such as opening doors, pushing elevator button.