Autonomous locomotion based on interpersonal contexts of pedestrian areas for intelligent powered wheelchair

Abstract

In a rapidly aged society, providing mobility aids such as motorized wheelchairs is becoming increasingly important. Although such mobility aids have recently been developed with autonomous locomotion functions, their technologies and locomotive styles are basically based on unmanned vehicles, not on welfare mobility aids. In order to realize harmonious autonomous locomotion, this research proposed the concept of "Interpersonal Contexts on pedestrian areas", and developed prototype technologies utilizing the contexts: velocity control based on interaction prediction of surrounding pedestrians, and interactive collision avoidance based on surrounding mobility type. This paper explains briefly their functions and results, and discussed their utilities based on the interpersonal contexts. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.