Interfacing users with very severe mobility restrictions with a semi-automatically guided wheelchair

Abstract

TetraNauta is an on-going R&D project1 aimed to develop a controller for standard electric powered wheelchairs that permits users with very severe mobility restrictions (such as people with tetraplegy) to easily navigate in closed environments (home, hospital, school, etc.). This project intends to design a non-expensive guidance system to help this kind of users to drive the wheelchair with the minimum effort, but maintaining the user as active as possible. For this reason the design of the user interface is a key factor. Sorne characteristic of this interface can be taken as a workbench for the design of more complex and security critical mobile systems.