The world’s first autonomous driving wheelchair module called Drove has been launched and will soon to be available by NDIS.
Control Bionics, a medical technology company, in collaboration with Deakin University’s Applied AI Institute (A2I2), created Drove.
A2I2 provided a team of researchers and software engineers for the project which has been dubbed a “gamechanger” claiming to bring a new level of independence and control to wheelchair users.
The module can be retro-fitted to powered wheelchairs, providing users with the ability to move their chairs autonomously without a joystick. It will enable people with motor neurone disease and other movement-restricting diseases to safely and precisely move around their home, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.
The system combines a digital camera system with Control Bionics tracking software and NeuroNode technology, which enables users to control the interface by thinking. Drove has the ability to cope with doorways, tight hallways, and will detect and stop when unexpected obstacles are encountered.
“We were excited to work with Control Bionics on a project that has the potential to make a real difference for people living with motor neurone disease and others who have trouble navigating their wheelchair using a joystick,” A2I2 co-director Professor Kon Mouzakis told itwire. The main challenge was to overcome the limitations of traditional joystick-controlled electric wheelchairs; the new module incorporated an override mechanism that allows users to regain manual control at any time.
“At A2I2, we developed a state-of-the-art digital twin with a user interface that displays a virtual representation of a user’s home.
“This interface has enabled users to select a destination, while our advanced control system ensures safe navigation within the home environment,” research project lead Dr Srikanth Thudumu said.
According to Control Bionics CEO Jeremy Steele, the NeuroNode technology allows people who are completely locked in to communicate.
“Now Drove will enable them to safely move around their home. It’s a level of independence they’d never considered possible. Being able to move so the sun isn’t in your eyes or leave a room on your terms are things most of us don’t think twice about, but you have to rely on someone else for them. Having a device that gives this control is amazing.”
He further added that the driving reason behind Control Bionics’s inception was to give independence, security, and control to those living with restricted movement from diseases such as sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and motor neurone disease (MND), as well as spinal cord injuries.
