Drive Safe

Current Projects:

• Smart Wheelchairs
  • Drive Safe
  • Wheelchair Convoy System
• Personal Assistants
  • ICue - Interactive Task Guidance
  • Navigation Assistant

The Drive Safe System is an add-on collision avoidance system for power wheelchairs. It detects and avoids collision risks, allowing users to safely operate a power wheelchair. By halting the wheelchair prior to a collision, the system provides safe mobility for people with disabilities who couldn't otherwise use power wheelchairs. Drive Safe can also be used as a training tool for new power wheelchair users.

Drive Safe is designed to assist users with:

• Tremors or spastic movements
• Partial blindness or other visual impairments
• Cognitive impairments
• Driving difficulties due to age, lack of driving experience or crowded environments

System Components:

• Sensor modules monitor the environment for obstacles
• Joystick Translator communicates with the wheelchair joystick
• Director module determines when to slow down or stop the wheelchair to prevent a collision
• Mode switch allows the user to switch between normal obstacle avoidance and a docking mode in which the user can pull closer to an object such as a desk

Features:

• Intuitive interface makes system configuration simple and easy to use
• Easy installation on power wheelchairs
• Modular design allows system to be transferred between wheelchairs
• Complementary sensor technologies detects difficult to see obstacles
• System provides both visual and auditory cues to the user
• Provides a safe cushion of space around the user, yet allows docking at a desk or water fountain
• Compatible with proportional joysticks and switched controls

AT-Sciences is also developing a version of Drive Safe for use with manual wheelchairs equipped with power-assist hubs. AT Sciences has received US Patent No. 7,204,328 for this technology. Read more about the Smart Power-Assist Module .

AT-Sciences is continuing to develop the Drive Safe system for release in the wheelchair market. In the meantime, Drive Safe is available as a research platform to support further research related to intelligent assistive mobility devices.

For more information:

• Video of the system in action
• Publications
• Financial Support
• Development Team