Journal
JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Volume 49, Issue 1, Pages 35-49Publisher
JOURNAL REHAB RES & DEV
DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2010.03.0022
Keywords
artificial intelligence; distributed systems; embedded systems; human-robot interaction; intelligent mobility aids; power wheelchairs; rehabilitation; robotics; sensors; shared control; smart wheelchair
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Funding
- National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research grant
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [5R44HD040023-03]
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Nonambulatory, visually impaired individuals mostly rely on caregivers for their day-to-day mobility needs. The Drive-Safe System (DSS) is a modular, semiautonomous smart wheelchair system aimed at providing independent mobility to people with visual and mobility impairments. In this project, clinical evaluation of the DSS was performed in a controlled laboratory setting with individuals who have visual impairment but no mobility impairment. Their performance using DSS was compared with their performance using a standard cane for navigation assistance. Participants rated their subjective appraisal of the DSS by using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index inventory. DSS significantly reduced the number and severity of collisions compared with using a cane alone and without increasing the time required to complete the task. Users rated DSS favorably; they experienced less physical demand when using the DSS, but did not feel any difference in perceived effort, mental demand, and level of frustration when using the DSS alone or along with a cane in comparison with using a cane alone. These findings suggest that the DSS can be a safe, reliable, and easy-to-leam and operate independent mobility solution for visually impaired wheelchair users.
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