SBIR Phase I: CoPilot - An Active Wheelchair Driving Aid for Independent Living

这个小型企业创新研究项目建议开发并商业化一种主动驾驶辅助设备，使电动轮椅（EPW）在门内和动态户外环境中实现半自动、协作导航。该设备被称为CoPilot，旨在供认知、感知或运动功能恶化的EPW用户使用。副驾驶是一种智能传感器和半自动驾驶控制系统，可以与驾驶员合作，帮助驾驶员通过变化的地形，避开障碍物/碰撞，并保持直线行驶。其目标是延长老年人在家中的独立生活和安全。这项创新的基础是，当一个老年人开始失去感知或运动功能时，CoPilot可以弥补这种损失，因为它可以解释用户的行为。它可以代表他们看到外面的环境。该项目将利用最新的3D激光雷达技术实现强大的感知，利用团队？在自动运输和检索系统的智能轮椅商业化方面的经验（包括获得FDA的批准），并将通过参与DARPA城市挑战赛，将团队在开发自动驾驶解决方案方面获得的知识应用于开发。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是使老年人能够在家中延长独立生活和安全，同时也为美国医疗保健系统提供重大的经济救济。途的。美国卫生与公众服务部报告称，65岁以上的人口将从2008年的3890万人增加到2030年的7000多万人。美国老年人口的快速增长也将增加与年龄有关的症状的人数，这些症状妨碍了他们的行动。这些常见症状包括视力障碍、痴呆和阿尔茨海默病。年代的疾病。人口老龄化的第二个更严重的副作用是，它将给美国的医疗保健系统带来前所未有的压力。在一定程度上，这种影响可以通过使个人在家中生活更长时间的同时保持独立性和安全性来缓解。据估计，为美国增加一个月的独立和健康？美国老年人口将节省50亿美元，而每年减少10%的住院和机构将节省500亿美元。因此，以家庭为中心的医疗保健技术，如CoPilot，是必要的。

This Small Business Innovation Research project proposes to develop and commercialize an active drivingaid to enable semi-autonomous, cooperative navigation of an electric power wheelchair (EPW) bothindoors and in dynamic, outdoor environments. The device is called CoPilot and is intended to be usedby EPW users who suffer from deteriorating cognitive, perceptive, or motor function. CoPilot is an intelligentsensor and semi-autonomous drive control system that works in cooperation with the driver to aidin negotiating changing terrain, avoiding obstacles/collisions, and maintaining a straight path. The goal isto prolong independent living and safety for seniors in their homes. The basis for the innovation is that asan elder person begins to lose perceptive or motor function, CoPilot can augment that loss because it caninterpret the user?s intent and it can see out into the environment on their behalf. This project will leveragethe latest in 3D LIDAR technology for robust perception, exploit the team?s experience in commercializingthe smart wheelchair of the Automated Transport and Retrieval System (including acquiring FDA approval),and will apply the knowledge the team has gained in developing autonomous driving solutions through theirparticipation in the DARPA Urban Challenge.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to enable prolonged independent living and safetyfor seniors in their homes while also providing significant economic relief to the U.S. healthcare system. TheU.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that the number of people over the age of 65 willincrease from 38.9 million people in 2008 to over 70 million by 2030. This rapid growth in the U.S. elderpopulation will also increase the number of people with age-related symptoms that hamper their mobility.Such common symptoms include visual impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer?s disease. A second, moreserious side effect of this aging population is that it will place unprecedented strains on the U.S. healthcaresystem. This impact can be moderated in part by enabling individuals to maintain their independence andsafety while living at home longer. It is estimated that adding a single month of independence and health toAmerica?s elder population would save $5 billion, while decreasing hospitalization and institutionalization10% would save $50 billion annually. As a result, technology for home-centered approaches to healthcare,such as CoPilot, are necessary.