I-Corps: Affordable and Reliable Autonomous Wheelchair

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发技术，以提高现有电动轮椅的机动性，目前这些轮椅仅限于短距离和短时间内使用。随着强调自主轮椅的可负担性，最终用户将享受该产品的可负担性好处。自动轮椅将提高安全性，减少因操作不当或对危险场景一无所知而造成的伤害。增强的机动性可以为弱势社区的人们创造一个更公平、更包容的环境，使最终用户能够在人群中独立导航。这个i-Corps项目基于自动驾驶轮椅的开发，该轮椅可以为服务不足和弱势社区提供更高效、负担得起、可靠和方便的交通选择。通过自主导航的创新，论证了开发负担得起、可靠的自主轮椅的可行性。基于初步研究，新的导航方法可以显著降低计算无碰撞导航的计算成本，而不会牺牲其他性能属性，如乘坐舒适性。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of technology to increase the mobility of existing power wheelchairs that are currently limited to usage over short travel distances and over short time periods. With an emphasis on the affordability of the autonomous wheelchair, end-users will enjoy the affordability benefits of the product. Autonomous wheelchairs will enhance safety and reduce injury due to inappropriate operation or unawareness of dangerous scenarios. Enhanced mobility can create a more equitable and inclusive environment for people in disadvantaged communities, enabling end-users to navigate independently in a crowd.This I-Corps project is based on the development of an autonomous driving wheelchair that may provide more efficient, affordable, reliable, and accessible transportation options for underserved and disadvantaged communities. The feasibility of developing affordable and reliable autonomous wheelchairs is demonstrated through an innovation for autonomous navigation. Based on initial research, the new navigation method can significantly reduce computation cost for computing collision-free navigation without sacrificing other performance attributes such as ride comfort.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.