Applications of virtual reality technology to wheelchair remote steering systems
Robert W. Gundersen, Stephen J. Smith, Ben A. Abbott · 2003
The Center for Self-Organizing and Intelligent Systems at Utah State University has been engaged in a two year project to investigate the application of virtual reality and associated technologies as a means for assisting the disabled to steer and control motorized wheelchairs. There have already been several interesting investigations aimed at steering virtual wheelchairs in virtual, computer generated, environments. This paper, however, reports on how this technology may be used to assist, or even completely take over, the task of steering and navigating a real wheel chair in real environments. The basic objective is to arrive at affordable and effective systems that can be used to improve the independence and quality of life of the disabled.